SECONO OOPY, 

b9. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap.. Copyright No. 

Shelf... 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



SPIRIT AND LIFE 




r 






Spirit and Life 

Selections from Bible 
Readings 



Ellin J. Knowles 

(Mrs. J. H. Knowles) 



"Cbe worts tbat 11 speak unto 
tou, tbes are spirit, ano tbee 
are life.— John 6: 63. 



Silver, Burdett and Company 

Boston New York Chicago 

MDCCCXCIX 



1 






27349 



Copyright, 1899 

BY 

SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY 



• r.M 







TO ONE IN HEAVEN 

WHOSE COMPANIONSHIP IN 

THE STUDY OF THE WORD HAS BEEN 

MY INSPIRATION 



MIZPAH 

1 We never used the word while thou and I 

Walked close together in life's working way ; 
There was no need for it, when hand and eye 

Might meet content and faithful every day ; 
But now, with anguish from a stricken heart, 

Mizpah ! I cry ; the Lord keep watch between 
Thy life and mine, that death hath riven apart : 

Thy life beyond the awful veil, unseen, 
And my poor broken being which must glide 

Through ways familiar to us both, till death 
Shall of a surety lead me to thy side, 

Beyond the chance and change of mortal breath ; 
Mizpah ! yea, love, in all my bitter pain, 
I trust God keepeth watch betwixt us twain. 

: The lips are dumb from which I used to hear 

Strong words of counsel, tender words of praise ; 
Poor must I go without the cheer 

And sunshine of thy presence all my days. 
But God keeps watch my ways arifl days upon, 

On all I do, on all I bear for thee. 
My work is left me though my friend is gone ; 

A solemn trust hath love bequeathed to me. 
I take the task thy languid hand laid down 

That winter morning, for mine own alway ; 
And may the Giver of both cross and crown 

Pronounce me faithful at our meeting day ! 
Mizpah ! the word gives comfort to my pain ; 
I know God keepeth watch betwixt us twain !" 



Preface 

A FEW selections from the Bible Read- 
ings which for fifteen years it has been my 

privilege to give in many places, are gath- 
ered here with the hope that in this more 
permanent form the precious seed may still 
be fruitful. Especially to the many hun- 
dred women composing the Bible Class of 
the Young Women s Christian Association 
of New York, under the care of Miss Ella 
Dohany, the Chaplain, where for several 
years it has been my joy to give the Bible 
lesson on Sunday afternoons, this little book 
is sent with its glad Easter greeting : u All 
hail ! Peace be unto you" 

E. J. K. 



CONTENTS 



INTRODUCTION THE WORD OF A 

FRIEND, BY BISHOP J. H. VIN- 
CENT, D.D. .... 
THE FRIEND OF GOD . 

A SONG OF CONSECRATION FOR THE 
NEW YEAR .... 
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF LOVE 

BETROTHMENT .... 
THE ROYAL COMMISSION- 
HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD 
GENNESARET .... 

THEY CRIED OUT FOR FEAR 
MORE THAN CONQUERORS . 

THE MOUNTAINEER'S SONG 
WHAT DO YE xMORE THAN OTHERS ? 

EVENING ..... 
MY CARE ..... 

HE CARETH FOR ME 
A LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE 

A SUMMER BENEDICTION . 



51 
52 
76 

77 
&& 
90 
117 
11S 
141 
142 
i55 
J 57 
180 



Contents 



HIS JEWELS .... 

THE HEART'S STORY 
THINGS WORKING FOR GOOD 

A DAY OF GOLD 
UPON MY WATCH-TOWER 

THE VALLEY OF SILENCE . 
ALL THE WAY 

RETROSPECTION 



PAGE 
182 

212 
213 

2 39 
240 
260 
262 
286 



The Word of a Friend 

EASTER DAY is a day of new life— of 
life from the dead; of life without any 
foreshadowing of death. The day is full of 
historic wonder — the wonder of a resurrection 
from the silence and power of the grave. It 
is a day full of prophetic promise — the prom- 
ise of life after death. It is a day full of 
consolatory assurance — the assurance of a 
love that death can never extinguish. 

As long as we live and love, the wonder, 
the promise, and the assurance of Easter will 
give us joy, and Easter lilies will bloom and 
Easter music fill the air. As long as voices 
we cherish are stilled by death, and faces 
dear to us as life itself are hidden in the 
tomb, we shall continue to be glad because 
of His coming who added to His words of 
hope and deeds of healing an actual return 



xii The Word of a Friend 

from the valley of Silence into the same old 
world in which He had spoken the words of 
eternal life. 

The words that Jesus spake were His best 
bequest to the world, and these acquired value 
from the deeds by which He illustrated and 
enforced them. He described holiness and 
lived it. He commended and commanded 
service — and then Himself served. He told 
us to give our best to those who need, and 
then to us gave — Himself. He bade us have 
no fear of death, and then calmly walked into 
the realm of death — and came back again. 
His deeds interpreted and enforced His 
words. They made History real, and put 
vital power into Prophecy and Promise. 

Easter Day thus puts power into the words 
of the Holy Book, which we open as Easter 
lilies bloom about us and Easter bells in the 
church tower summon us to thanksgiving. 
What Christ did that first Easter Day makes 
the Bible to us the Book of Eternal Life. 
All that the Book teaches of Love and Light, 
of Peace and Hope, acquires its worth from 



The Word of a Friend xiii 

the fact of the open sepulchre and the as- 
cending Lord. 

And it is in this way that the Word of God 
becomes the medium of Spiritual Life. The 
Spirit is in the Book, and in the Spirit is Life. 
And thus are miracles wrought in human 
lives — even in our times. 

In the wonderful poem by Robert Brown- 
ing, " A Death in the Desert," we have a re- 
markable illustration of the power of the 
Divine Word. The aged disciple lay in the 
innermost cave attended by a few of his 
chosen friends, who sought, in every possible 
way, to restore him to consciousness. They 
dropped wine upon a cloth and chafed his 
hands. He did not wake. They " broke a 
ball of nard, and made perfume." He re- 
mained silent. " Then Xanthus said a 
prayer, but still he slept." 

" Then the boy sprang up from his knees, and ran, 
Stung by the splendor of a sudden thought. 
And fetched the seventh plate of graven lead 
Out of the secret chamber, found a place, 
Pressing with finger on the deeper dints, 
And spoke, as 't were his mouth proclaiming first, 



xiv The Word of a Friend 

' I am the Resurrection and the Life.' 
Whereat he opened his eyes wide at once, 
And sat up of himself, and looked at us ; 
And thenceforth nobody pronounced a word." 

Such is the power of the Word which is 
" Spirit and Life." It contains the seed of 
immortal blessedness. It has illuminating, 
awakening, convincing, converting, sanctify- 
ing, edifying power. 

It is fitting that a loving teacher of the 
Holy Scriptures should on Easter Day place 
in the hands of her loyal disciples pleasant 
reminders of the Book they have so long and 
so diligently studied. 

May this little volume be both " Spirit and 
Life " to everyone who opens, to peruse, its 
pages. 

John H. Vincent. 

Topeka, April, 1899. 



SPIRIT AND LIFE 



yanuary 



The Friend of God 

By faith Abraham, when he was called 
to go out into a place which he should after 
receive for an inheritance, obeyed ; and he 
went out, not knowing whither he we?it. 

By faith he sojourned in the land of 
promise, as in a strange country, dwelling 
in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the 
heirs with him of the same promise : 

For he looked for a city ivhich hath 
foundations, whose builder and maker is 
God. — Hebrews ii: 8-10. 

THE history and character of Abraham 
in many respects excel all others in 
the Bible in interest and in practical les- 
sons for us. Faith is, next to Love, the 
noblest faculty of the soul. Faith is the 
groundwork of Love, and without it Love, 
the sublimest grace of all, can never be 



Spirit and Life 



enthroned in any human heart. To be- 
lieve God, as Abraham believed Him, is 
to be a conqueror over sin, self, and cir- 
cumstances. It is to live the heavenly 
life as nearly as it can be lived on earth. 

Read the story of Abraham with St. 
Paul's application of it to the Christian 
life in the fourth chapter of Romans, and 
it will make you wise unto salvation. 

Abraham had a distinction we may well 
covet. 

Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of 
Abraham my friend. — Isaiah 41 : 8. And 
the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, 
Abraham believed God, and it was im- 
puted unto him for righteousness: and he 
was called the Friend of God. — James 
2:23. 

Can we possibly reach that distinction 
ourselves ? So then they which be of 
faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 
— Galatians 3 :g. 

This theme opens so richly, like a vein 



The Friend of God 3 

af precious gold or like the farther and 
farther discoveries of burning planets in 
the glorious heavens, that I wish we 
might dwell upon it week after week until 
its saving truth should be assimilated in 
our very being. O to learn from Abra- 
ham what it means to believe God! To 
be the friend of God ! A friend is one 
who trusts you — believes in you — will not 
hear a word against you — stays by you 
through all vicissitudes — loves you in 
spite of your faults — will do anything for 
you — will comfort you — weep with you — 
rejoice with you — understands you if need 
be without any explanation. Think of 
being called the friend of God in a way 
like that! Not because you are such a 
saint, nor so distinguished, nor so rich, 
nor so talented, nor even because you 
are so much in need of a friend. But 
because you have that quality which is 
essential in all friendship, — faith. 

There can be no friendship without 



4 Spirit and Life 

faith. You cannot be on terms of inti- 
macy with one you do not believe in, nor 
with one who does not believe in you. 
This is not the weak sort of thing we 
usually mean when we talk of having 
faith in God. It is more than believing 
what He says. It is keeping faith with 
Him in fidelity and constancy, and being 
so sincere, though perhaps far from per- 
fect, that God can have faith in us, and 
put confidence in the integrity of our 
secret soul. 

Briefly the story of Abraham, — Genesis 
twelfth to twenty-fifth chapter. 

He dwelt in an idolatrous country. 
God called him to go into a country of 
which he knew nothing. He did not'tell 
him the name of the country. He said : 
"A country which I will afterwards show 
thee." This was a trial of faith, but 
nothing compared with the tests which 
followed it. The more fully Abraham 
believed and obeyed, the greater the tests 



The Friend of God 5 

became. Lessons are more difficult as we 
pass into higher classes. It is not a sign 
of weakness, or of God's displeasure to- 
ward us when we are tried to the utmost. 
Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth 
for our profit. Abraham was greatly 
honored by the tests which God saw he 
was capable of enduring. So are many of 
His dearest friends honored now. 

When the call came, he obeyed : he went 
out not knowing whither he went, simply 
trusting the guidance of God — the God 
who had promised " I will bless thee and 
make thee a blessing." 

We are going out in the New Year into 
an unknown country we know not whither. 
But if only we go believing and obeying 
as did Abraham, we shall afterward re- 
ceive it for an inheritance. The promise, 
" I will bless thee and make thee a bless- 
ing," is ours, and every circumstance, 
every event, every opportunity, disap- 
pointment, sorrow, or joy, will be a part 



Spirit and Life 



of our inheritance, as joint-heirs with 
Christ ; riches laid up unto eternal life. 
What a vast inheritance the New Year 
offers if only we believe and obey ! 

It is encouraging to know that Abra- 
ham's was not a perfect faith. He was 
exactly like us, and if we could read be- 
tween the lines in this simple biography 
we would see how his faith was a growth 
cultivated by circumstances, by providen- 
tial leadings, by discipline and trial. But 
it grew to its stalwart proportions, so that 
he is called the Father of the Faithful, 
because he obeyed. The path of obedi- 
ence is always the path of progress in the 
life of every human soul. His faith fal- 
tered, and he was led into serious mistake 
and danger when he went into Egypt and 
said what was not true about Sarah, his 
wife. 

There is so much that is suggested, 
not written, in all these charming Bible 
stories. The romance of love, old as 



The Friend of God 7 

Eden, is retold again and again. Sarah, 
a beautiful woman, won Abraham's heart 
in the early days. And while much that 
does violence to the standards of our own 
times appears in the story, yet through 
all, the golden thread of a pure love runs 
distinctly: one woman's power over the 
heart of one man. Pure human love does 
not interfere with friendship with God. 

Sarah was always queen of Abraham's 
life, no matter who else appeared upon 
the scene. She understood the true 
feminine art of government, so it is said 
of her that she " obeyed Abraham, calling 
him lord." Every true woman feels that 
sort of respect for a man whom she can 
admire and trust, and is glad to yield 
deference to him if his character is such 
as commands it. 

But at the same time Sarah evidently 
had her own way when she set her mind 
upon it. The story tells us how, when 
once again Abraham's faith faltered be- 



8 Spirit and Life 

cause he could not see how God could 
perform His promise to his seed while 
he had no son, Sarah proposed a plan of 
her own — (you must read it in Genesis i6j 
— and like all human plans which are 
formed in impatience at God's delays, it 
brought her into serious trouble. But 
" Abraham hearkened to the voice of 
Sarah": "one touch of nature makes 
the whole World kin." Yet, like the 
long-suffering and forgiving God that He 
is, after this God spoke to Abraham, re- 
newing His covenant, and told him that 
Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, was 
not to be the heir of the promise, but 
Sarah's son. 

Here surely was a trial of faith far 
beyond anything which had yet tested 
Abraham. What! he one hundred years 
old, and Sarah ninety ! 

Abraham, the father of us all (as it is 
written, I have made thee a father of 
many nations), before Him whom he be- 



The Friend of God 9 

lieved, even God, who quickeneth the 
dead, and calleth those things which be 
not as though they were. Who against 
hope believed in hope, that he might be- 
come the father of many nations, accord- 
ing to that which was spoken, So shall thy 
seed be. He staggered not at the prom- 
ise of God through unbelief; but was 
strong in faith, giving glory to God ; 
And being fully persuaded, that what He 
had promised He was able to perform. 
And therefore it was imputed to him for 
righteousness. Now it was not written 
for his sake alone, that it was imputed to 
him ; But for us also, to whom it shall 
be imputed, if we believe on Him that 
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead ; 
Who was delivered for our offenses, and 
was raised again for our justification. — 
Rom. 4: 17-25. 

For twenty-five years the fulfillment of 
this promise was delayed. It is not writ- 
ten, but doubtless many, many times the 



io Spirit and Life 

question arose, " Am I mistaken ? Have 
I misunderstood the Lord ? Am I pre- 
sumptuous to believe a thing so contrary 
to nature and to all precedent ? Has God 
forgotten ? " 

Ah ! we know that sometimes even 
the faith of Abraham, under discipline, 
needed the added assurance of the word 
of God. He said : What wilt thou give 
me seeing I go childless? I see no sign 
of the fulfillment of Thy word. Then God 
said : Fear not, I am thy shield and thy 
exceeding great reward. Look now to- 
ward heaven and tell the stars, if thou be 
able to number them: so shall thy seed 
be. And he believed in the Lord ; and He 
counted it to him for righteousness. — 
Genesis 15:1-6. So that a man shall say. 
Verily there is a reward for the righteous : 
verily He is a God that judgeth in the 
earth. — Psalm 58 : 11. 

God is a rewarder of them that dili- 
gently seek Him. — Hebrews 1 1 : 6. For 



The Friend of God 1 1 

what saith the scripture ? Abraham be- 
lieved God, and it was counted unto him 
for righteousness. Now to him that 
worketh is the reward not reckoned of 
grace, but of debt. But to him that 
worketh not, but believeth on Him that 
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted 
for righteousness. Even as David also 
describeth the blessedness of the man, 
unto whom God imputeth righteousness 
without works, Saying, Blessed are they 
whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose 
sins are covered. Blessed is the man to 
whom the Lord will not impute sin. 
Cometh this blessedness then upon the 
circumcision only, or upon the uncircum- 
cision also ? for we say that faith was 
reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 
— Rom. 4: 3-9. And that was counted 
unto him for righteousness unto all gene- 
rations for evermore. — Psalm 106: 31. 

In the eighteenth chapter of Genesis, 
1-5, we find interesting suggestions as to 



12 Spirit and Life 

the relation a friend of God bears to 
others. His mission is to comfort hearts. 
Every friend of God is doing this, what- 
ever else he leaves undone. Three 
strangers came by Abraham's tent, and 
with the readiness of habitual courtesy 
he said, " Rest yourselves under the 
tree." The word really means " lean ye 
down." O how good for tired hearts it 
is for some friend of God to say " Lean 
ye down " ! Let the tension relax. Let 
me share your burden. Let me refresh 
you, you are so tired. " Stay " your 
hearts, the word really is. Only a friend 
of God can bea" stay " to other hearts. 
The soul that leans and rests against Love 
and Strength omnipotent, can hold up 
others. That is one of the blessed privi- 
leges a friend of God has. It is worth 
while to bear all manner of testing to 
reach a point where we can truly comfort 
hearts. Nor did Abraham speak as 
though he thought he was doing some 



The Friend of God 13 

great thing in this kindness. He said, Let 
me give you a little water and a morsel 
of bread, when all the while he meant to 
give them the very best he had; " for 
therefore are ye come to your servant." 

So it was ordered of God that these men 
should come to him not so much that 
they might get what he would give, but 
that he might have the opportunity to 
serve them. The friend of God, he recog- 
nized that opportunities to do good and 
to minister to others are favors sent to us, 
not favors given. I think it is Phillips 
Brooks who says the world cannot be di- 
vided into benefactors and beneficiaries. 
The one who has the means and the op- 
portunity to give is as much the bene- 
ficiary as the one who receives. 

Another privilege of friendship is 
open-heartedness with no concealment of 
thoughts or plans. Shall I hide from 
Abraham that thing which I do ? — Genesis 
18 : 17. Jesus says : Henceforth I call you 



14 Spirit and Life 

not servants; for the servant knoweth not 
what his lord doeth : but I have called 
you friends; for all things that I have 
heard of my Father I have made known 
unto you. — John 15: 15. 

Abraham, in communion with God, 
knew the destruction that was coming 
upon Sodom ; Lot, in Sodom, knew it 
not. Many shall be purified, and made 
white, and tried ; but the wicked shall 
do wickedly ; and none of the wicked shall 
understand ; but the wise shall understand. 
— Daniel 12 : 10. 

The friend of God can plead with Him 
for others. " Abraham stood yet before 
the Lord." Every request was granted. 
Sodom would have been spared if ten 
good people could have been found in it, 
and Lot was saved through Abraham's 
prayer. The world owes much to the 
prayers of the friends of God. We have 
ourselves been shielded, comforted, pros- 
pered, because some trusted friend for 



The Friend of God 15 

years has talked with Him about us every 
day. 

But perhaps Abraham's height of faith 
and friendship seems beyond our little 
possibilities. Do not be discouraged. 
Abraham grew; so may we. " The 
righteousness of God is revealed from 
faith to faith," and is " imputed to them 
who walk in the steps of that faith of 
our father Abraham." He went step by 
step, not by great leaps. The man whose 
faith has been deeply tested and who has 
come off victorious, is the man to whom 
supreme tests must come. The finest 
jewels are most carefully cut and pol- 
ished ; the hottest fires try the most pre- 
cious metals. Abraham would never have 
been called the Father of the Faithful if 
he had not been proved by uttermost 
trials. 

Read Genesis, twenty-second chapter : 
" Take thy son, thine only son, whom 
thou lovest " ! At every stroke the Lord 



16 Spirit and Life 



cut deeper into the heart of His friend, 
on the cleavage line of his dearest treasure. 

"It is such an apparently unreason- 
able demand. It is so unlike God. He 
cannot mean it. I could not love a God 
who would require such a thing of me." 

So we say in the presence of mysteries 
which baffle our faith. But not so Abra- 
ham. He who had been tested often, who 
had been obedient, who had always proved 
God true if he waited God's time, could 
meet a trial which would have overthrown 
a soul less closely in fellowship with God. 

See him going with a chastened, wistful, 
yet humbly obedient heart up Moriah's 
height, with the idol of his heart beside 
him about to be sacrificed at the command 
of a God whom he had faithfully loved 
and served ! What a rebuke to our ques- 
tionings of God's dealings with us ! Away 
with all doubting explanations of this stu- 
pendous scene! It was an object-lesson 
for the ages. Angels were looking. Shall 



The Friend of God 17 

this man's faith stand forever for the 
strength and help of all God's people ? 
Shall it be known through him that un- 
faltering faith will always prove the faith- 
fulness of God ? Yes ; and when faith had 
borne victoriously its uttermost test, the 
angel of the Lord — who? the Lord Jesus, 
Jehovah, He in whom ''all the promises 
of God are yea and amen ' ' — spoke to him, 
saying, " Now I know that thou fearest 
God. ' ' Thou hast trusted me to the utter- 
most. I will also trust thee ; thou shalt 
ever be called my friend, and I will bless 
thee and make thee a blessing; in thee 
shall all nations be blessed. It is always 
so, and always will be: " they that are of 
faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." 
That the trial of your faith, being much 
more precious than of gold that perisheth, 
though it be tried with fire, might be 
found unto praise and honor and glory at 
the appearing of Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 
1: 7. 



1 8 Spirit and Life 

Great things are in store for the Lord's 
tried and true friends at His " appearing. 

There is touching pathos in the simple 
statement, Abraham came to mourn for 
Sarah and to weep for her. — Genesis 23 : 2. 
The friend of God is in sorrow ; but we 
know that Jesus wept with His friends in 
Bethany. When he was old and well 
stricken in age, it is said, " The Lord had 
blessed Abraham in all things," and he 
" died in a good old age, an old man, 
and full" (Genesis 25:8). Not full of 
years, but himself full; a good old age; 
satisfied, happy, contented; such an old 
age as only the friends of God know. He 
was gathered to his people, and Jesus lifts 
the veil of the unseen (Luke 16), and shows 
us His friend with the angels, still " com- 
forting " another friend, Lazarus, who has 
just come out of earthly trials into the 
glorious company of heaven. Blessed is 
it indeed, in time and eternity, to be the 
friend of God ! 



The Friend of God 19 



A SONG OF CONSECRATION, FOR A HAPPY 
NEW YEAR. 

The bells of my heart are ringing, 

Happy bells ! 
Ringing a shout of thanksgiving, 
Ringing a pcean of praise ; 
Up to the skies doth the melody rise, 
This happiest day of my days. 

The bells of my heart are ringing, 

Thankful bells ! 
For the Spirit reveals this truth to me : 
That wholly unworthy though I may be, 
A wonderful price has been paid for me, 
And therefore, my Lord, I belong to Thee. 

The bells of my heart are ringing, 

Grateful bells ! 
This is the song of their musical chime : 
Lord, I am Thine, entirely Thine, 
Thy name is written on all I call mine, 
For all eternity and for all time. 

Ring on, ring on, sweet spirit bells ! 

Blessed bells ! 
Ring on forever, and nevermore cease, 
In my inmost being, your chimes of peace. 
Ring joyful peals ! for this day so blest. 
Dawns on my soul her Sabbath of rest. 

E. J. K. 



February 



The Preciousness of Love 

Beloved, let us love one another : for love 
is of God ; and every one that loveth is born 
of God, and knoweth God. — / John j. : y. 

ST. JOHN, who wrote more about 
love than any other of the dis- 
ciples, learned its preciousness and came 
into the possession of it through intimacy 
with Jesus. In his youth he was ambi- 
tious to sit in a place of power at the 
right hand of the Lord in His kingdom, 
the favorite of the King. Jesus told him 
then that such a place was not a gift; it 
must be won by the person who shall 
hold it, and as He asked the searching 
question, Can ye drink of my cup, and be 
baptized with my baptism of suffering ? 
He revealed the price of that high posi- 



The Preciousness of Love 21 

tion, — love, self-forgetful, self-renounc- 
ing love. 

Men and women are striving to see 
who shall be uppermost ; who shall be 
most admired, most praised, most power- 
ful. Jesus taught His ambitious disciple 
that the greatest among men was he who 
loved most, and did most to make the 
world better and happier. " Even as the 
Son of man came not to be ministered 
unto but to minister, and to give His life 
a ransom for many." At another time 
John saw a man casting out devils and 
forbade him because he was not one of 
the company of Jesus' disciples. He 
was narrow and exclusive, he could not 
rejoice in the good done by one who did 
not follow just the methods he approved. 
Jesus taught him a broader charity when 
He said, " He that is not against me is 
for me." 

At another time, when the Samari- 
tans would not permit the Lord to pass 



22 Spirit and Life 

through their villages, John, furious with 
resentment, asked, " Shall we call down 
fire on them from heaven as did Elijah ? " 
Jesus promptly rebuked him, saying, 
" You know not what spirit you are 
of." This is not my spirit, this is not 
love. I came to save men, not to de- 
stroy them. But companionship with 
Jesus changed all this. Closer and closer 
his intimacy grew until he became dis- 
tinguished as the disciple whom Jesus 
loved, who leaned upon His bosom and 
shared His secret thoughts. 

One wrote upon a frosted pane the 
words God, Love, Home. Were these 
all ? Did they comprehend everything 
sweet and pure and lovely ? Indeed, are 
there not too many already ? Yes; home 
means love ; only two words were left, 
God and Love. Too many yet, for God 
is Love. So on a new pane was written 
the one word, God. That comprehended 
all. 



The Preciousness of Love 23 

How much is enfolded in that one little 
word of four letters, Love ! Take the 
flower of your life — all that makes up 
that unseen but real thing which we call 
our life, and from root to outermost leaf 
love is its essential part. You may pick 
it in pieces as you would a rose, tear off 
petal after petal of the immortal blossom, 
and you find love written on all, and in 
its very heart the stamina and strength of 
all is love. Fancy your life bereft of love. 

Love is the one sole comfort left for 
sorrowing, burdened humanity amid the 
wreck which is our inheritance from the 
fall. The Arch-Fiend, whose very es- 
sence is the opposite of love, would fain 
have despoiled us of all good. But the 
Cherubim and flaming sword, mystical 
emblems of the highest manifestation of 
Love, the Redemption in Christ Jesus, 
were placed where they " kept," or 
guarded and preserved, the way to the 
Tree of Life. It was not wholly lost ; 



24 Spirit and Life 

the love of God in Christ is kept as a 
door of hope for His disobedient and 
misguided children. For He loved us 
from the foundation of the world, and 
has set Himself from the beginning to 
save humanity as far as possible from the 
evil designs of the Adversary, and to re- 
store to all who will accept it finally, 
through Infinite Love, all that was lost. 
Herein is love ; not that we loved God, 
but that He loved us, and sent His Son 
to be the propitiation for our sins. — I 
John 4: 10. 

All love is of God. Love, wherever 
you see it, is the nearest like God of any- 
thing in all the universe. St. John was 
only stating a fact of human experience 
when he said, " He that loveth not, 
knoweth not God." Nothing is so far 
from fellowship and acquaintanceship 
with God as an unloving heart. And 
on the other side, " He that loveth, 
knoweth God, for God is love." 



The Preciousness of Love 



o 



Even on the lowest plane of spiritual 
apprehension, it is true that pure human 
love brings God within our comprehen- 
sion more than anything else can, except 
the direct revelation of Him through the 
Holy Spirit. The more power of unself- 
ish loving we possess, the more like God 
we are, for God is love. I believe a 
study of love, human love and divine 
love — the one is a gleam and glimmer of 
the other, — a study of it as this blessed 
Book presents it to us, and as human 
experience exemplifies it, will bring us 
nearer to God. He uses human affection 
to illustrate His own Divine Heart. 

Can a woman forget her child ? Yea, 
they may forget, yet will I not forget 
thee. Behold, I have graven thee on the 
palms of my hands. — Isaiah 49: 15, 16. 

A mother was told she had only a few 
hours to live. " I must live until Johnnie 
comes," she said, and mother-love, 
stronger than death, held the silver cord 



26 Spirit and Life 

until the boy for whom she had prayed 
through years of wandering came back 
to promise he would follow his mother's 
Saviour. 

If a son shall ask bread of any of you 
that is a father, will he give him a stone ? 
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer 
him a scorpion ? How much more shall 
your heavenly Father give the Holy 
Spirit to them that ask Him ? — Luke 
II: 11-13. 

As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the 
bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. — 
Isaiah 62 : 5. Prepared as a bride adorned 
for her husband. Come hither, I will 
shew thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife. — ■ 
Revelation 21 : 2, 9. The Spirit and the 
Bride say, Come. — Revelation 22:17. 
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ 
also loved the church, and gave Himself 
for it. — Eph. 5 : 25. 

Beloved, let us love one another, for 
love is of God. I never saw that simple 



The Preciousness of Love 27 

affirmation before as I see it now. All 
the love that makes your life worth the 
living, the love of husband, mother, 
sister, brother, and friend, the sweet af- 
fection of that darling child whose soft 
arms will twine around your neck this 
evening, all the love that you prize as 
life's dearest possession, is of God. It 
came from nowhere else. It is His gift, 
born of His own heart; proof of His own 
eternal love. We have taken it as a 
thing of course, and call it natural affec- 
tion. But who made the nature capable 
of loving; who sowed the seeds of love 
close by the fountain of life in your 
heart ? Beloved, let us love. Let us do 
nothing to drive this sweet dove of peace 
and blessing from our homes or our hearts. 
Love is of God, and " where love 
is there God is." We cannot afford 
to wound by negligence, unkindness, or 
want of reciprocity, so dear, so precious 
a thing as love. Many waters cannot 



28 Spirit and Life 

quench love, neither can the floods drown 
it : if a man would give all the substance 
of his house for love, it would utterly be 
contemned. — Song of Solomon 8: 7. 

I read this beautiful incident in a New 
York daily paper: " My Darling." These 
words in bright letters stood out in bold 
relief on the dashboard of a huge four- 
horse truck in a Broadway blockade. The 
driver looked as unsentimental as pos- 
sible, but he was not profane or brutal 
toward his horses. Patiently he waited 
the loosening of the jam, while his neigh- 
bors filled the air with curses. Finally, 
his horses becoming restive, he climbed 
down from his box and soothed them 
with gentle words and caresses. Then a 
bystander asked why he called his truck 
" My Darling." " Why," he said, " be- 
cause it keeps the memory of my daugh- 
ter, little Nellie. She 's dead now, but 
before she died she clasped her arms 
around my neck and said: ' Papa, I 'm 



The Preciousness of Love 29 

going to die, and I want you to promise 
me one thing, because it will make me so 
happy. Will you promise?' 'Yes,' I 
said, ' I '11 promise anything. What is 
it ? ' Then, fixing her eyes on mine, she 
said: ' Oh, Papa, don't be angry, but 
promise me you '11 never swear any more, 
nor whip your horses hard, and be kind 
to mamma.' That 's all there is about 
it, mister, but I promised my little girl, 
and I 've kept my word." When the 
blockade was lifted, the big truckman 
resumed his seat, and was soon lost in 
the tide of travel. Will anyone say this 
is not of God ? 

There is nothing so touching as the ex- 
hibitions of love among the poorest and 
roughest classes of humanity. Those who 
visit among the poor, and see homes 
destitute of every comfort, mothers worn 
out with care and hunger, and little chil- 
dren with the merest supply of life's bare 
necessities, could give many illustrations 



30 Spirit and Life 

of the softening, refining, heavenly in- 
fluences of love. Wherever we find it, 
let it be henceforth more than ever sacred 
to us, for love is of God. 

It surprised the shiners and newsboys 
around the Post Office the other day to 
see " Little Tim " coming among them 
in a quiet way and to hear him say : 
" Boys, I want to sell my kit. Here 's 
two brushes, a hull box of blacking, a good 
stout box, and the outfit goes for two 
shillings." " Goin' away, Tim ?" in- 
quired one. " Not 'zactly, boys, but I 
want a quarter the awfullest kind just 
now." "Goin' on Skursion ? " asked 
another. " Not to-day, but I must have 
a quarter," he answered. One of the 
lads passed over the change and took 
the kit ; and Tim walked straight to 
the counting-room of a daily paper, put 
down the money, and said, " I guess I 
kin write if you give me a pencil." 

With slow-moving fingers he wrote a 



The Preciousness of Love 31 

death notice. It went into the paper 
almost as he wrote it, but you might not 
have seen it. 

He wrote : " Died, Litul Ted, of Scarlet 
fever ; gone up to Hevin, left one brother." 

Was it your brother ? " asked the 
cashier. Tim tried to brace up, but he 
could n't. The big tears came up, his 
chin quivered, and he pointed to the 
counter and gasped, " I — I had to sell 
my kit to do it, b — but he had his arms 
around my neck when he d — died." He 
hurried away home; but the news went 
to the boys, and they gathered into a 
group and talked. Tim had not been 
home an hour before a barefoot boy left 
the kit on the doorstep, and in the box 
was a bouquet of flowers which had been 
purchased in the market by pennies con- 
tributed by the crowd of ragged but big- 
hearted boys. Did God ever make a 
heart which would not respond if the 
right chords were touched ? 



32 Spirit and Life 

This story too is told in a daily paper: 
" You sha'n't have it! I won't give it 
up!" A very old and forlorn-looking 
woman had been arrested for vagrancy in 
the streets of a great city. She was dirty, 
ragged, and miserable. Her brown and 
wrinkled face wore a distressed and weary 
look. Her bony fingers closed tightly 
over something held in her right hand, 
thrust under her ragged apron. " You 
sha'n't have it! " she said, angrily, to the 
officer whose duty it was to search prison- 
ers before confining them in their cells. 
" Let me see what it is, anyhow," he said 
half coaxingly. " It aint anything you '11 
want," she said, drawing back, with her 
hand still hidden in the folds of her apron. 
It aint anything I can do any harm 
with. It 's just a little kind of a — a — 
keepsake." The old woman began to 
cry, with her arm held over her eyes. 
" You '11 have to let me look at it," said 
the officer, kindly but firmly; " it 's the 



The Preciousness of Love 33 

rule of the prison. You may keep it, 
perhaps, after I 've seen it." The 
wrinkled hand came slowly out from 
under the apron, the bony fingers were 
unclasped, and there in the shivering palm 
lay a ragged little shoe. " Pshaw! I 
don't care for that," said the officer, a 
little huskily. " I knowed you would n't," 
sobbed out the woman; " but I care a 
good deal for it. It *s a keepsake, you 
know. 

A keepsake; the one little bond be- 
tween the life that was and the life she 
knew; a tiny remnant of the happy past, 
clung fondly to in the sorrowful present. 
" It was my baby's shoe, his first and only 
one," she said. " I 've carried it thirty- 
five years, and I 'd have been a worse 
woman 'n I am now if it had n't been for 
that little shoe." There was no proof 
that she was a bad woman now. Unfor- 
tunate she surely was, and the world had 
not been kind to her. Vagrants have 



34 Spirit and Life 

hearts and souls. That ragged little shoe 
had for all those years been the treasure 
and the comfort of the one ; it may have 
been the salvation of the other. It may 
have been her shield against temptation, 
her strength in hours of weakness, her 
consolation amid all the sorrows of her 
hard life; and in the end, it might lead 
the helpless old soul to the cross of the 
Christ who had carried her babe in His 
bosom, and whose arms were outstretched 
toward herself. 

" Whatever is mighty, whatever is high, 

Lifting men, lifting women, their natures above, 
And close to the kinship they hold in the sky, 
Why, this I affirm— that its essence is Love." 

In a prison in Massachusetts is a man 
on life sentence. He has shown a desper- 
ate spirit ever since he came in, and has 
twice plotted a general outbreak in the 
prison, but has been discovered. Since 
then, he has obeyed orders, but with a 
sullen spirit. Last June a party of stran- 



The Preciousness of Love 35 

gers visited the prison. With them were 
two little children. The guide took one 
of the little girls in his arms to carry her 
up-stairs. This man, moody and sullen, 
stood near. " Jim," said the guide, 
won't you help this other little girl up 
the stairs ? ' ' He scowled. The child held 
out her hand: " If you will, I guess I '11 
kiss you." His scowl vanished ; he lifted 
her tenderly as a father would. Half-way 
up the stairs she kissed him. At the head 
of the stairs she said, "Now, you 've got 
to kiss me too." He blushed, looked 
into her innocent face, kissed her cheek, 
and went down the stairs with tears in his 
eyes. Ever since that day he has been a 
changed man. Maybe somewhere he has 
a little one of his own ; no one knows, for 
he never tells his past life, but the change 
so quickly wrought by that loving kiss 
proves that he may yet be a saved man. 

" Down in the human heart 
Crushed by the tempter, 



36 Spirit and Life 

Feelings lie buried that grace may restore. 
Touched by a loving hand, 
Wakened by kindness, 

Chords that are broken may vibrate once more." 

Beloved, let us love one another, for 
love is of God. Let us love men and 
women into hope and salvation. 

The Lord hath appeared of old unto 
me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with 
an everlasting love : therefore with loving- 
kindness have I drawn thee. — Jeremiah 
31:3. The drawing power of love ; loved 
thee from the pit, drawn thee out by love. 
Only by love will God draw all men unto 
Himself. 

Every one that loveth is born of God, 
and knoweth God. Love, then, is the 
revealer of God. He that loveth me 
•shall be loved of my Father, and I will 
love him, and will manifest myself unto 
him. If a man love me, he will keep my 
words: and my Father will love him, and 
we will come unto him, and make our 
abode with him. — John 14: 21-23. 



The Preciousness of Love 37 

If this faint, crushed rose of human 
love at which we have been looking, set 
about by many a thorn, yet so sweet that 
despite its thorns, which prick us often so 
sorely, we count it the most precious 
thing in human existence; if this imper- 
fect yet so blessed treasure is of God, 
what must be that great divine heart, 
that reservoir of eternal, infinite love, 
from which these sweet streams flow ? In 
this was manifested the love of God to- 
ward us, because that God sent His only 
begotten Son into the world, that we 
might live through Him. Herein is love, 
not that we loved God, but that He loved 
us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation 
for our sins. — 1 John 4:9, 10. But God 
commendeth His love toward us, in that, 
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for 
us. — Romans 5 : 8. 

Greater love hath no man than this, 
that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
— John 15:13. For God so loved the 



3& Spirit and Life 

world, that He gave His only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him 
should not perish, but have everlasting 
life. For God sent not His Son into the 
world to condemn the world ; but that 
the world through Him might be saved. — 
John 3: 16, 17. Beloved, if God so loved 
us, we ought also to love one another. 
No man hath seen God at any time. If 
we love one another, God dwelleth in us, 
and His love is perfected in us. Hereby 
know we that we dwell in Him, and He in 
us, because He hath given us of His 
Spirit. — 1 John 4:11-13. His spirit of 
love, not only love for those who love us, 
but His spirit of love for everybody. 
Everyone that loveth is born of God. 
Not everyone that loveth some person, 
or some thing, not love that has a selfish 
element in it, as most human affection 
has, but everyone that loveth with the 
broad, unselfish love that reaches to the 
unlovely, to those who do not love us in 



The Preciousness of Love 39 

return, who do not expect our love, the 
great, sinful, suffering humanity. Every- 
one who loves this way is born of God, 
for such love comes only through being 
made a partaker of the divine nature, in 
a high, spiritual sense. He that loveth 
not in this broad and Godlike measure 
knoweth not God, for God is love. If a 
man say, I love God, and hateth his 
brother, he is a liar. And this command- 
ment have we from Him, That he who 
loveth God love his brother also. — 1 John 
4 : 20, 21. 

Love, then, love to God, and love to 
all our fellows, is the supreme good, the 
fulfilling of the law. Then one of them, 
which was a lawyer, asked Him a ques- 
tion, tempting Him, and saying, Master, 
which is the great commandment in the 
law ? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt 
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 
and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
mind. This is the first and great com- 



40 Spirit and Life 

mandment. And the second is like unto 
it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- 
self. On these two commandments hang 
all the law and the prophets. — Matthew 
22: 35-40. 

Read the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians 
over and over and over again. 

And now abideth faith, hope, love, 
and the greatest of these is love. Yes, 

the greatest thing in the world." 

Above all things have fervent love 
among yourselves : for love shall cover the 
multitude of sins. — 1 Peter 4: 8. Hatred 
stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all 
sins. — Proverbs 10: 12. 

Love suffereth long. So patient to 
serve, and wait, and watch ; and is so 
kind ; so careful not to wound, but rather 
to take the thorns and sharp stones out 
of every path. Envieth not ; so glad to 
see another happy and prosperous. Is 
not puffed up. Esteems others better 
than itself, in sweet humility of mind. 



The Preciousness of Love 4 1 

Doth not behave itself unseemly ; is 
never rude, or discourteous, or disagree- 
able. Seeketh not her own. Nothing is 
so unselfish as true love. Is not easily 
provoked. It takes something of conse- 
quence to make love angry ; unselfish love 
is not disturbed by trifles; it is good- 
tempered. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but 
rejoiceth in the truth. It is trustful, 
sincere, looks on the bright side, and 
is far more ready to believe the good 
than the evil that is said of its friends 
and acquaintances. What a blessed 
state of society would we have if love 
ruled ! 

How shall we get this sweet angel of 
all good to dwell in us ? God is love; he 
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and 
God in him. — i John 4: 16. Make a 
way for God to come, by cultivating a 
loving spirit through loving deeds. The 
best way to please God is to be kind to 
some of His other children. Love grows 



42 Spirit and Life 

by use, as other attributes of the mind 
and heart grow. " I shall pass through 
this world but once. Any good thing, 
therefore, that I can do, or any kindness 
I can show to any human being, let me 
do it now. Let me not defer it, for I 
shall not pass this way again." 

Jesus always made much of love, more 
than of anything else, because it is the 
root and essence of all good living and 
working. 

" Simon, lovest thou me ? " He asked. 
" Her sins, which are many, are all for- 
given, for she loved much," He said of 
Mary. A loving heart compels to service, 
and in the last day love will be the final 
motive by which we shall be judged. For 
unto those who love Him He will say, " I 
was an hungered and ye fed me." To 
those whose love was so little that it never, 
saved them from a selfish life, He will 
say, " Ye did it not to me." Shall it be 
said of us, 



The Preciousness of Love 43 

" I lived for myself, I thought for myself, 
For myself and none beside, 
Just as if Jesus had never lived, 
As if He had never died " ? 

Not only if God so loved us ought we to 
love one another, but how should we love 
Him who first loved us. The Life of 
Bishop Selwyn says: In the early days 
of Sister Dora's nursing mission at Wal- 
sall, she had achieved a wonderful success 
in saving for a workingman his arm. The 
limb had been so terribly mangled by 
some machinery that the surgeons de- 
cided it must be amputated. But the 
poor man's groans and expressions of 
despair went to the nurse's heart; and 
when he appealed to her, '* Oh, Sister, 
do save my arm for me, it 's my right 
arm," with a swift glance she took in the 
possibilities of the case, and determined 
to try. Her skill and attention were re- 
warded with success ; and the patient in- 
stalled himself as one of her most devoted 
admirers, calling to inquire for her when 



44 Spirit and Life 

she was ill, and begging the portress to 
" tell Sister it was her arm that rang the 
bell." 

In the same way as Sister Dora, at 
her Cottage Hospital at Walsall, Bishop 
Selwyn once saved an arm. In visiting a 
hospital, he met on the steps a dejected- 
looking figure with a sentence of death 
from the doctors ringing in his ears. For 
he had positively refused to allow his arm 
to be amputated, and was preparing to 
take the consequences. "I 'd a deal 
rather die, sir; and I 'm going home to 
tell my wife so. I could n't bear to live, 
just to be a hobble on her and the chil- 
dren." 

The Bishop's sympathy was enlisted 
on behalf of the poor man, and arrange- 
ments were at once made for sending 
him to a London hospital. Some time 
afterward, the happy, grateful convales- 
cent appeared at Litchfield and asked to 
see the Bishop. With great pride and 



The Preciousness of Love 45 

satisfaction he pulled up his sleeve and 
showed him his arm. It was almost well 
and already in a fair working condition, 
owing to the insertion of a silver tube in 
place of the diseased bone which had 
been removed. "It 's the Bishop's arm 
now for ever, if he wants it," said the 
man, enthusiastically, and he showed it to 
several lookers-on; " a five-pound note 
he paid down to give me my silver arm, 
and it 's just the same as his arm now." 
Ye are not your own ; ye are bought with 
a price : therefore glorify God in your 
body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 
— I Cor. 6: 20. 

" O, love of God, how strong and true ! 
Eternal, and yet ever new ; 
Uncomprehended and unbought, 
Beyond all knowledge and all thought." 

So sang one who has now entered into 
fuller comprehension of eternal love. By 
a flash of light from the ever blessed 
Spirit, who takes of the things of Christ 



46 Spirit and Life 

and shows them unto us, while yet in the 
flesh, he saw how wondrous is the un- 
bought love of Him who gave His life for 
us. In the clearer light of heaven, with 
the open vision of the Father's face, what 
would he say now of that love ? O if we 
could but hear! O if we could but hear 
from any of those we have known who 
have gone where they know even as they 
are known, I think they would say : 

14 Dear friend, let me tell you how it 
used to seem to me when I was where 
you are, and how it seems to me now. 
Well do I remember the doubts and 
anxieties that filled my heart ; how the 
uncertainties of the future stretched like 
dark shadows over the way. How lonely 
I felt. How unequal to life's work and 
burdens. How I questioned the love 
and care of God. How wrong the ap- 
pointment of my lot appeared. Ah, dear 
heart, I remember well those experiences 
of my earthly life. But how little I knew ! 



The Preciousness of Love 47 

How very much clouded was my sight by 
the mists of the world ! It is all so differ- 
ent now. Looking back, I see I never 
was alone. I never was left to uncer- 
tainty. I never had any work given me, 
nor any burden put upon me, without 
adequate strength given. And oh! the 
love of God so strong and true, so tender 
and watchful, even when I doubted it. 
If you could only know that love as I 
know it now, you would go on with a 
courage and calmness that nothing could 
move. Believe that love, dear friend. 
You cannot believe it too much ; you 
cannot trust it too far ; you cannot frame 
any language that could express what we, 
in heaven, know of the eternal love of 
God." 

But while the voices we have loved 
cannot speak to our mortal ear, the In- 
finite Lover Himself speaks so plainly 
that we must understand. Hear Him 
saying: I have loved thee with an ever- 



48 Spirit and Life 

lasting love; Greater love hath no man 
than this, that a man lay down his life for 
his friends. As the Father hath loved me, 
even so have I loved you. Behold, I have 
graven thee upon the palms of my hands. 
I will not leave you comfortless. Even 
the very hairs of your head are all num- 
bered. Not a sparrow falleth to the 
ground without your Father ; fear ye 
not, therefore, ye are of more value than 
many sparrows. 

What then ? Would we take the testi- 
mony of a saint in heaven as more assur- 
ing than the word of God Himself ? 
Surely no. We need no voice other 
than His to quiet every misgiving and 
send us forward with calm and confident 
step. 

Whatever comes, let us know and be- 
lieve the Love. We can walk courage- 
ously through darkness when Love goes 
with us. We can bear disappointment 
when Love has the management of our 



The Preciousness of Love 49 

affairs. We can endure pain when Love 
soothes us and says, " It is but for a mo- 
ment." We can stand before the iron 
doors of great mysteries without fear when 
we know Love holds the key. 

O, thou unknown future, before whose 
portal we stand blind and deaf to all 
thou may'st have in store for us, we cross 
thy threshold with undaunted step, for 
we are persuaded that neither life, nor 
death, nor things present, nor things to 
come, shall be able to separate us from 
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus 
our Lord. Beloved, if God so loved us, 
we ought also to love one another, so 
that good deeds, kind deeds, helpful, 
loving acts and words may flow out to 
all around us, the far away as well as the 
near. 



" Like a cradle rocking, rocking, 
Silent, peaceful, to and fro, 
Like a mother's sweet looks dropping 
On the little face below — 



50 Spirit and Life 

Hangs the green earth, swinging, turning, 

Jarless, noiseless, safe and slow ; 
Falls the light of God's face, bending 

Down and watching us below. 
And as feeble babes that suffer, 

Toss and cry, and will not rest, 
Are the ones the tender mother 

Holds the closest, loves the best ; 
So when we are weak and wretched, 

By our sins weighed down, distressed, 
Then it is that God's great patience 

Holds us closest, loves us best ! 
O great heart of God ! whose loving 

Cannot hindered be, nor crossed, 
Will not weary, will not, even 

In our death itself, be lost. 
Love divine ! of such great loving 

Only mothers know the cost, 
Cost of love, which all love passing. 

Gave a Son, to save the lost ! " 



The Preciousness of Love 5 1 

BETROTHMENT. 

And I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, 
and thou shall know the Lord. — Hos. 2 : 20. 

" Lovest thou me ? " O Saviour of my soul, 
Thou readest here Thine answer in my heart ; 

All its deep pulses leap to Thy control, 

Responsive to Thy whisper, " Mine thou art." 

How could it be that I should love Thee not, 
When I such revelations have of Thee ? 

Thy character, surpassing human thought, 
Thy wondrous love, so tender unto me. 

And yet I grieve Thee ! O Thou Christ adored ! 

I bow before Thee weeping in the dust ; 
Canst Thou forgive the thoughtless act and word, 

The heart that fails to yield Thee all its trust? 

O love, that bears so much ! All symbols fail — 
Mother and lover, husband, brother, friend, 

The dearest earthly ties can never tell 

Love's deepest meaning without change or end. 

From Thy dear hand the pledge divine I take, 
The token given only to Thine own ; 

The name Thou callest me for love's sweet sake, 
The secret written in the pure white stone. 

O blessed union ! where with open face, 
With steadfast gaze, Thy glory I can see ; 

Till, by the precious mysteries of grace, 
I change in likeness, Lord of love, to Thee. 

E. J. K. 



March 



The Royal Commission 

As Thou hast sent me into the world, even 
so have I also sent them into the world. — 
John I J : 1 8. 

THESE are wonderfully suggestive 
words, spoken in the prayer of Jesus 
to the Father, for His disciples, and re- 
peated to them after His resurrection. As 
my Father hath sent me, even so send I 
you. — John 20: 21. How was Jesus sent 
into the world, and for what purpose ? As 
a royal messenger he came from the royal 
household. God, who at sundry times 
and in divers manners spake in time past 
unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in 
these last days spoken unto us by His 
Son. — Heb. I : I, 2. 

Can it be that you and I have any 

52 



The Royal Commission 53 

right so to dignify our mission in life as 
to compare it with that of our Lord and 
King ? O Christian, do you comprehend 
your privilege as a child of the royal 
blood, partaker of the divine nature, par- 
taker of the heavenly calling, the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus ? The 
mission which He came from heaven to 
fulfill is verily the mission of His followers. 

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal 
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar 
people ; that ye should show forth the 
praises [or virtues] of Him who hath 
called you out of darkness into His mar- 
velous light. — I Peter 2 : 9. 

It is a grand and noble thing to live. 
Let us feel that we are sent into life with 
a purpose, and for a purpose ; life can 
then never lose its interest, never become 
under any circumstances utterly dull and 
commonplace. 

For none of us liveth to himself, and no 
man dieth to himself. For whether we 



54 Spirit and Life 

live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether 
we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we 
live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 
— Rom. 14 : 7, 8. And for every soul 
that belongs to Him He has use and a 
place. Fear not, I have redeemed thee; 
I have called thee by thy name ; thou art 
mine. — Isa. 43: 1. So we do ourselves a 
great wrong if ever we sit down in the 
shadow of our own gloomy thoughts, say- 
ing, as Jonah did, " It is better for me to 
die than to live. " That need not be true 
of anyone. It is our own fault if it is 
true; there must be use for us as long as 
God bids us stay here. 

We are sent upon the same mission as 
that of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit of 
the Lord is upon me, because He hath 
anointed me to preach the gospel to the 
poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken- 
hearted, to preach deliverance to the cap- 
tives, and recovering of sight to the blind, 
to set at liberty them that are bruised, to 



The Royal Commission 55 

preach the acceptable year of the Lord. — 
Luke 4: 18, 19. 

I wonder how you can endure to go 
into those vile places and sit beside 
those unclean people and talk to them," 
said a woman to another who was 
accustomed to do such work as is de- 
scribed in the verses just quoted. " I 
thought that was what Christians were 
for," was the quiet reply. So it is; this 
is their mission everywhere they go ; and 
above all they are sent to fulfill it in their 
own homes. Go down to thine own 
house and show what great things God 
hath done unto thee. — Luke 8:38. If 
we cannot show it there, in our manner 
and spirit, we may be sure we need better 
preparation before we try to show it else- 
where. 

We are to fulfill our mission in the Spirit 
of Jesus. Whosoever will be chief among 
you, let him be your servant. Even as 
the Son of man came not to be ministered 



56 Spirit and Life 

unto, but to minister. — Matt. 20:27, 28. 
Let nothing be done through strife or 
vainglory ; but in lowliness of mind let 
each esteem other better than themselves. 
Look not every man on his own things, 
but every man also on the things of 
others. Let this mind be in you which 
was also in Christ Jesus. — Phil. 2: 3-5. 

We must do our work for others in the 
spirit of love and compassion. God sent 
not His Son into the world to condemn 
the world, but that the world through 
Him might be saved. — John 3:17. How 
do we feel toward those not so fortunate 
as ourselves ? Do we feel aversion, or pity 
and desire to help ? The spirit of " Stand 
thou aside for I am holier than thou," 
never yet helped another. Truly may we 
say, as we look at a fallen brother or sister, 

There goes myself but for the grace of 
God." 

And the disciple, like the Master, is 
" anointed " for service. 



The Royal Commission 57 

Ye shall receive power after that the 
Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye 
shall be witnesses unto me. — Acts I : 8. 
And, behold, I send the promise of my 
Father upon you. . . . All power is 
given unto me in heaven and in earth, go 
ye therefore. And lo, I am with you 
alway unto the end of the world. 

The commission is personal. I have 
not your mission to fulfill, nor you mine. 
The Son of man is as a man taking a far 
journey, who left his house, and gave 
authority to his servants, and to every 
man his work. — Mark 13: 34. Whatever 
our sphere, it gives it both dignity and 
interest to feel that it did not come by 
chance, but is ours by divine appoint- 
ment. 

These words are very suggestive in 
their connection with our Lord's assur- 
ance that he would soon return from that 
" far journey." He has not given us our 
work and then lost His interest in it. He 



53 Spirit and Life 

is coming back to give it personal inspec- 
tion, and to bestow upon each one a 
" reward according as his work shall be." 
It is said of us, as Christians, that " we 
are His workmanship, created in Christ 
Jesus unto good works, which God hath 
before ordained that we should walk in 
them." What must we think, then, of a 
Christian who feels no responsibility for 
anything beyond personal salvation ? 
who, if a brother or sister be naked, or 
destitute of daily food, either bodily or 
spiritual, gives them not those things 
which are needful ? 

" If suddenly upon the street 

My gracious Saviour I should meet, 
And He should say : ' As I love thee, 
What love hast thou to offer me ? ' 
Then what could this poor heart of mine 
Dare offer to that heart divine ? 

" His eye would pierce my outward show ; 
His thought my inmost thought would know, 
And if I said, ' I love Thee, Lord,' 
He would not heed my spoken word, 
Because my daily life would tell 
If verily I loved Him well. 



The Royal Commission 59 

11 If on the day or in the place 
Wherein He met me face to face 
My life could show some kindness done, 
Some purpose formed, some work begun, 
For His dear sake, then it were meet 
Love's gift to lay at Jesus' feet." 

The necessity for work — ' ' by the sweat 
of thy brow shalt thou eat bread " — we 
associate with the curse of sin, but like 
many another thing in which we mis- 
understand our good and loving God, in- 
stead of being a part of the curse, it is 
one of His benevolent ways of relieving 
the consequences of man's sin. How 
one pities the people who stand around 
with nothing to do ! What a boon is 
good hard work to humanity! Many a 
man or woman is saved by it from hope- 
less depression of spirits, and saved, too, 
from crime, for " Satan finds some mis- 
chief still for idle hands to do." 

What is true of work for mankind in 
general is eminently true of Christian ser- 
vice. It is a blessing. It gives healthful 



60 Spirit and Life 

exercise to the powers of mind and heart. 
Many a one has been saved from un- 
wholesome introspection, from the con- 
suming fire of unhappy thoughts, through 
the occupation of some benevolent or re- 
ligious work; and many have been saved, 
too, from the currents of worldly society 
by having the hands and the time filled 
by the pressing demands of the various 
charities and missionary organizations. 
Do we call it a sacrifice of self to engage 
heartily in these things ? Rather let us 
call it a great privilege, one of God's 
favors toward us, for the enrichment of 
personal character and the unfolding of 
the best energies of the soul. 

And the honor of being a co-worker 
with Him ! Who shall estimate that ? 
There is no place for discouragement in 
any truly Christian work. It must suc- 
ceed. There are no words sufficiently 
expressive for this thought : " Sow in the 
morning thy seed, and at evening with- 



The Royal Commission 61 

hold not thy hand, for thou knowest not 
which shall prosper, whether this or that, 
or whether both shall be alike good." 
There is no intimation of the possibility 
that either morning or evening sowing 
can be bad. 

There are some conspicuous hinder- 
ances to the doing of our work, through 
which many Christians are standing all 
the day idle, and, of course, losing 
their reward. One is want of courage. 
They are afraid to follow their best con- 
victions because of the criticism of those 
who observe them. They " love the 
praise of men more than the praise of 
God." Nothing but a supreme love to 
God, which makes us value His approval 
above everything else, will overcome this 
hinderance. 

Another hinderance is a false humility. 
" Because I can do so little, or cannot do 
it as well as others, therefore I will do 
nothing. I will never be missed from the 



62 Spirit and Life 

ranks of the workers because my influence 
is so small; my words would have but 
little weight, therefore I may as well be 
silent." Such humility is close of kin to 
pride. True humility says: " I can do 
all things through Christ which strength- 
ened me." Forgetting self, trusting in 
Jesus, is the secret of successful service. 

Self-indulgence is one of the chief hin- 
derances to usefulness. We mean to find 
some work; indeed, we have found it; 
but it costs effort. It requires some sac- 
rifice of ease to teach a Sunday-school 
class, to be a parish visitor, to undertake 
some reform in the household, to fill our 
place in the prayer-meeting, and so on 
through all the golden line of opportunity. 
What shall raise us from our selfish indif- 
ference ? The one remedy, the one in- 
spiration, is to realize in the depths of a 
loving and grateful heart this truth, " that 
Christ died for all, that they which live 
shall not henceforth live unto themselves, 



The Royal Commission 63 

but unto Him which died for them, and 
rose again," and to say with the hearti- 
ness of a sincere devotion, " Whose I am, 
and whom I serve." A living branch of 
the True Vine cannot cease from doing 
that which Jesus says glorifies the Father : 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye 
bear much fruit." 

In that picture of the glorious future of 
the Church in Revelation, 22d chapter, 
there is the Tree of Life, bearing twelve 
manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit 
every month for the healing of the na- 
tions. The Tree of Life is the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and branches of that tree 
should be like Himself, fruitful always 
for help and healing. 

At the Beautiful Gate of the Temple 
once a lame man lay. Peter and John 
spoke to him, and the man looked ear- 
nestly at them, " expecting to receive 
something from them." This man was 
like hundreds that we meet every day. 



64 Spirit and Life 

They are looking at us, Christians, ex- 
pecting to receive something from us. 
And they have a right to expect it. We 
have meat to eat that they know not of, 
and their hungry hearts should get help 
from us. We have riches they have no 
share in ; it is a shame if we pass them by 
without at least a little gift from our 
abundance. Peter said to the lame man : 
" Silver and gold have I none, but such as 
I have give I thee." He was only fulfill- 
ing the spirit of that practical word of 
St. Paul : " As every one hath received the 
gift, even so let him minister one to an- 
other, as good stewards of the manifold 
grace of God." 

So we have only to give " such as we 
have." But what " manifold grace" is 
ours to share with others ! As we rest by 
the seashore, or revel in mountain air, or 
wander over green fields where the temp- 
tation will be to think we have no respon- 
sibility of fruit-bearing for the time, what 



The Royal Commission 65 

opportunities will come to us to be " good 
stewards of manifold grace " ! A word in 
season to one that is weary ; an expres- 
sion of appreciation to some hard-working 
man or woman ; consideration for those 
who serve us; the " lend-a-hand " spirit 
toward all we meet, whether it be in 
spiritual or temporal affairs — all these will 
be occasions wherein we may " glorify 
our Father." 

There is one sort of work of which 
there is so much to do that the Lord has 
given it to a large majority of His dis- 
ciples. It is His own kind of work, and 
in it we find sweet fellowship with Him. 
It is patient continuayice. Sometimes we 
think it stands in the way of everything, 
and does not count for anything. " Just 
patient continuance in one round of duty, 
when I might be accomplishing so much 
if I only could have a little change!" 
But Paul says, Who will render to every 
man according to his deeds: To them 



66 Spirit and Life 

who by patient continuance in well doing 
seek for glory and honor and immortality, 
eternal life. — Rom. 2 : 7. Men may get 
glory and honor in other ways, but they 
never can get more than the patient con- 
tinuer in well doing will have — eternal life, 
which comprehends all that the infinite 
God can give. 

There is a procession passing my win- 
dow, and how much more those men in 
line are doing than they know ! They 
are putting down with their steady, mar- 
tial step an old truth with new emphasis 
for me. It would not be much of a pa- 
rade if it were made up only of the band 
and the men in uniform. Of course, 
these attract attention, but, after all, the 
ranks that follow, each man in his place 
keeping step, make up an array which is 
worthy to be called a procession. 

This, then, is my lesson for the day. 
I have only to march on, keeping step 
with my Leader, and, although I wear no 



The Royal Commission 67 

distinguishing uniform nor sound a drum- 
beat for recognition, yet my place is im- 
portant, and the life-ranks will miss me if 
I ignobly drop out before I am regularly 
dismissed by my General in command. 

We are apt to think only of the distin- 
guished workers when considering the 
great movements of the age. The head 
of a manufacturing establishment is the 
embodiment of that interest in our eyes; 
but how long could his engines move or 
his looms weave without the workmen, 
each in his place ? We look at a picture 
and think only of the artist ; how could 
his ideal have found expression had not 
the unknown artisan prepared the canvas, 
fashioned the brush, and mixed the 
paints ? 

There are passages of Scripture we 
often overlook which have in them a 
blessed lesson for us if we will search it 
out. For instance, 1 Chronicles 4:23: 
" These were the potters, and those that 



68 Spirit and Life 

dwelt among plants and hedges: there 
they dwelt with the king for his work." 

How could the king have had a palace 
with lovely surroundings if there had 
been no potters and gardeners in his 
household ? Surely it was not by acci- 
dent the names of these men were writ- 
ten in the Book. The Holy Spirit would 
teach this lesson, so needful for us who 
are so often discouraged, and so ready to 
discount as useless the commonplace ser- 
vice of every day, that the appointed task 
and the appointed place, however seem- 
ingly insignificant, are just as important 
as any others, and just as blessed, too, if 
only we dwell ivith the King for His work. 

There is no joy upon earth sweeter than 
the joy of ministering to others. In one 
of those times of intercourse with His 
disciples, when Jesus said many things 
which have never been written, but which 
left an influence upon their hearts which 
we feel as we read what they have writ- 



The Royal Commission 69 

ten concerning Him, He said: "It is 
more blessed to give than to receive." 
St. Paul reminded the people of this word 
of Jesus. He must have been told it by 
one of the twelve who heard Him say it; 
and by his own life of self-forgetful ser- 
vice he proved the truth of the saying. 
In all His teaching the Lord Jesus un- 
folded eternal principles. He was not 
arbitrary or dogmatic in His doctrine. He 
did not affirm in the Beatitudes that cer- 
tain persons were blessed because He 
would have it so, but because in the 
nature of things it was so. Men might 
try every way possible to their imagina- 
tion to be blessed, but they never could 
arrive at the goal they sought except 
through the seven beautiful gateways of 
the Beatitudes. Just so He taught that 
to be greatest and happiest among men is 
to be as He Himself was among them, 
" as one that serveth." Not because He 
arbitrarily lays down a law that he who 



jo Spirit and Life 

would be greatest must be servant of all, 
but because in the very constitution of 
things, in the constitution of God Him- 
self, the law is essential and eternal. 
Unselfish loving, unfailing outpouring of 
kindness and beneficence, have always 
made the joy of heaven ; and wherever 
these qualities most fully possess human 
hearts, there earth is nearest like heaven. 

It is not then a matter of regret that we 
live in a day when great demands are 
made upon our time, our sympathy, our 
means, for the helping of the needy. We 
may well be thankful for the privilege. 

Who can tell what bearing our training 
here in the sweet ministries of love may 
have upon our capabilities to be God's 
messengers of blessing in the hereafter ? 
We do not know what He may have for 
His redeemed people to do in the eterni- 
ties. No lagging years of inglorious ease 
are they ! But years of glad service with- 
out weariness, with larger capacities, with 



The Royal Commission 71 

clearer vision, with the perfection of joy 
of which we have now a little foretaste, 
as we follow Him who went about among 
the common people doing good. 

There is danger perhaps, in the great 
pressure of things to do, in our many 
charities of this day, that we may lose the 
real blessedness of ministering. Just so 
soon as we get, like Martha, cumbered 
with much serving, the very sweetest 
charities become a drudgery. We have 
seen exceedingly careworn-looking per- 
sons rushing from committee to commit- 
tee, from entertainment to lecture, for 
" sweet charity's sake," heavily laden with 
tickets, weary with responsibility, labor- 
ing over the problem as to whether the 
project on hand will " make " or " lose " 
for the treasury. 

It is a question if such ministering is 
very ' ' blessed. ' ' Sincere it is, doubtless ; 
and far be it from us to underrate the real, 
unselfish service rendered in these ways by 



72 Spirit and Life 

most efficient workers in all our boards of 
chanties. But why lose the sweetness of 
the service in the hurry and rush of per- 
forming it? If we must needs be on many 
committees, the making of which there 
seems to be no end, let us keep the blessed- 
ness in the dullest routine by remembering 
another word of the Lord Jesus, how He 
said : ' ' For whosoever shall give you a cup 
of water to drink in my name, because ye 
belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he 
shall not lose his reward." That motive 
always in view may lift even the selling 
of tickets above the commonplace, and 
keep the soul serene amid the tumult of 
committees. 

There is a sweet and suggestive story 
called " The Cup of Loving Service. " A 
boy stood shading his eyes with his little 
hand, gazing up the steep, rough road 
which wound about a mountain. Behind 
him was a small house set in a patch of 
grass and garden, with every sign of pov- 



The Royal Commission 73 

erty, yet with evidences of carefulness and 
content. From a peg in the shed adjoin- 
ing the house, the boy took a pewter mug, 
a tin pail and cover, and a coarse clean 
cloth from the next nail, and hastening to 
a spring near by he filled his pail with the 
clear, cool water, covering it carefully 
from the hot, noontide sun. 

Then he bound the cup to the belt at 
his waist and began the toilsome ascent of 
the mountain. Presently he found a 
traveler, overcome by fatigue and heat, 
prostrate upon the ground. Taking some 
cool water in his cup, he pressed it to the 
fainting lips. Revived by the draught, 
the traveler asked, " What angel of mercy 
sent you to me, child, in this forsaken 
wilderness ? How did you know I was 
weary and thirsty ? Give me another 
cup ; never was draught so sweet ! ' ' And 
then he offered his little succorer a coin. 

The boy drew back. " O no, sir," he 
said ; " this is the cup that mother says is 



74 Spirit and Life 

without money and without price, and 
although we are very poor, sir, God has 
been so good to us ; for He has given us 
a beautiful spring which is always running 
beneath the rock right by our home, and 
mother says we must always feel so thank- 
ful for it, and we must not forget the 
verse somewhere in the Bible which says, 

Freely ye have received, freely give.' 
O no, sir, I could not take your money. 
You see, this is the cup of loving service, 
mother says, and we must fill it and share 
it with those who pass by and are very 
tired and thirsty. If you will look at it, 
you will see what mother wrote upon it 
a long time ago." 

11 Yes, child, I can read the words, 
Ready for loving service in the name of 
Christ. ' Child, suppose the spring should 
cease to flow ? ' ' 

How could we do without the spring, 
and the cup never lifted down and filled ? 
But oh, I am sure the spring will always 



The Royal Commission 75 

run, sir," eagerly answered the boy. We 
cannot here follow farther this beauti- 
ful story of loving service; but may not 
our hearts be like this little, homely, use- 
ful cup, always bearing the inscription, 
" Ready for loving service in the name of 
Christ," filled every day afresh from the 
fountain of living waters, the eternal love 
of God, carrying refreshment to many a 
weary traveler along the steep and rugged 
roads of human life. " As the Father 
hath sent me into the world even so send 
I you." 



76 Spirit and Life 



HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. 

Wait, my impatient soul ! come thou and rest 
In the deep quiet of thy Father's heart ; 

The rush and tumult, and the chafing toil 

Have wearied thee ; come to this " place apart." 

Remember how thy Saviour's patient soul 

Was vexed with this same world that wearies thee, 

And how He said, when human helpers failed, 
" Yet not alone ; the Father is with me." 

Come, hide with Him, companionship most dear ; 

'T will be for thee to dwell with Christ in God — 
To enter with Him the most holy place, 

Where only those He leads have ever trod. 

And yet, strange paradox, though hidden here. 

Still thou must keep thy place in outward strife ; 
Hidden with Christ means fellowship with Him 

In bringing this sad world to light and life. 

The needs of men shall press thy soul, as His, 
But sight is clearer in this place apart ; 

A calm, expectant faith will nerve thy toil, 
Hidden with Jesus in the Father's heart. 

Come, tired soul ! the worry and the fret 
Make life and service seem a heavy load ! 

Leave them outside — come, find that toil is rest, 
In this sweet hiding-place, with Christ in God ! 

E. J. K. 



April 



Gennesaret 

And straight tway Jesus constrained His 
disciples to get into a ship, and to go before 
Him unto the other side, while He sent the 
multitude away. — Matthew 14 : 22. 

A ?id He saw them toiling in rowing ; for 
the tvind zuas contrary unto them ; and 
about the fourth watch of the flight He 
cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and 
would have passed by them. — Mark 6 : 4.8. 

Then they ivillingly received Him into the 
ship : and immediately the ship was at the 
land ivJiither tJiey zvent. — John 6 : 21. 

THIS little inland sea, so often crossed 
and recrossed by our Lord and His 
disciples, the scene of so many miracles, 
is suggestive as a symbol of human life. 
What a variable area it was ! Now quietly 
sleeping in the embrace of precipitous 
77 



78 Spirit and Life 

hills, reflecting the soft clouds by day 
and the watching stars by night ; then 
tossed into unreasoning fury in a moment 
by the sudden rising of the passionate 
winds. Ships of adventure, pleasure, or 
traffic were constantly passing over it, and 
many times it carried on its waves Christ 
and His Church, the hope of humanity 
through coming ages ; and once and 
again would that little Church have been 
wrecked had not the divine Leader been 
near to succor and save. 

There was one occasion when He sent 
His few disciples away to do His bidding, 
seemingly without Him. It appears from 
the narrative that they went reluctantly, 
but Jesus constrained them. 

It was dark; evening had come; there 
may have been signs of storm, and it 
seemed as if there must be reason why 
they should stay and relieve the Lord of 
that great multitude who were thronging 
Him after the miracle of the loaves and 



Genncsaret 79 

fishes. But notwithstanding their un- 
willingness to go, and the apparent reasons 
for staying, He constrained them to get 
into the ship, while He attended to the 
multitudes and then went alone into a 
mountain to pray. 

They seemed to go without Him, yet 
how near He was! Never once did He 
lose sight of that boat, and, better still, 
He never lost control of it. The dark- 
ness deepened on the sea, the waves 
tossed the ship at their mercy, and the 
great wind that blew was contrary. Jesus 
saw them. Darkness never hides anyone 
from Him. He saw them distressed in 
their efforts to resist the storm ; they were 
doing all they could, but they not only 
made no headway, but were in peril of 
their lives. And yet He waited. It was 
the fourth watch of the morning before 
He came to them walking on the sea. 
Three o'clock — that time before dawn 
when things seem at their worst ; that 



80 Spirit and Life 

hour when flesh and heart fail, and we 
think we cannot toil in rowing any more, 
but must let the ship sink — then He 
comes, walking on the waves we thought 
would overwhelm us. 

But He does not enter the ship yet, 
nor even speak. It seems as though He 
would pass by without a word. Why ? 
Surely it was to show them He had 
control ; that no waves were so high that 
He could not walk above them, and that 
they, too, were safe in a storm with Him. 

But their faith was not yet equal to 
this. They all saw Him, but, instead of 
being calmed by His presence, they were 
troubled; they did not know Him. But 
Jesus would not suffer their faith to be 
tested above that they were able, so im- 
mediately He talked with them and said : 
" Be of good cheer : it is I ; be not afraid. 
Then they willingly received Him into the 
ship, and immediately they were at the 
place whither they went. 



Gennesaret Si 

So He tests our faith. So He sends us 
out upon a sea He knows will be stormy. 
So He lets us toil against head winds. So 
it sometimes seems as if He would pass 
by us in our extremest peril without a 
word. But He never forgets; He never 
ceases to watch; He never fails to come 
at the right moment; He never fails to 
speak good cheer to the souls fainting 
with fear; He never fails, when we will- 
ingly receive Him into our heart and life, 
to bring us safely out beyond the storm 
into His present and eternal peace. 

We are sent out into life without our 
own choice ; sometimes to occupy a place 
or do a work quite against our will. 

And Moses said unto the Lord, O my 
Lord, I am not eloquent, neither hereto- 
fore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto 
Thy servant: but I am slow of speech, 
and of a slow tongue. And the Lord 
said unto him, Who hath made man's 
mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or 



82 Spirit and Life 

deaf, or the seeing, or the blind ? have 
not I the Lord ? Now therefore go, and 
I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee 
what thou shalt say. And he said, O my 
Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of 
him whom Thou wilt send. — Exodus 
4: 10-13. 

But God's eye is upon every little boat 
on life's sea. Neither is there any crea- 
ture that is not manifest in His sight : but 
all things are naked and opened unto the 
eyes of Him with whom we have to do. — 
Hebrews 4:13. 

He is master of every situation. Ah 
Lord God ! behold, Thou hast made 
the heaven and the earth by Thy great 
power and stretched out arm, and there 
is nothing too hard for Thee. Behold, I 
am the Lord, the God of all flesh : is there 
anything too hard for me ? — Jeremiah 32 : 
17, 27. 

He could have come sooner to their re- 
lief upon Gennesaret, but He waited. For 



Gennesaret 83 

as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways, 
and my thoughts than your thoughts. — 
Isaiah 55:9. 

For I know the thoughts that I think 
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of 
peace, and not of evil, to give you an ex- 
pected end. — Jeremiah 29: 11. 

Just when they were ready to say, " We 
can toil no longer," He came. 

There hath no temptation taken you 
but such as is common to man : but God 
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be 
tempted above that ye are able; but will 
with the temptation also make a way to 
escape, that ye may be able to bear it. — 
1 Cor. 10: 13. 

He seemed to pass by without caring. 
So He waited until Lazarus died before 
coming to His friends in Bethany. He 
said, " I am glad I was not there, to the 
intent ye may believe." Jesus could 
calm the sea, or He could walk above the 



84 Spirit and Life 

tempest. " He maketh the clouds His 
chariots." 

Who are kept by the power of God 
through faith unto salvation ready to be 
revealed in the last time. Wherein ye 
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, 
if need be, ye are in heaviness through 
manifold temptations: that the trial of 
your faith, being much more precious 
than of gold that perisheth, though it be 
tried with fire, might be found unto praise 
and honor and glory at the appearing of 
Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye 
love ; in whom, though now ye see Him 
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory. — i Peter 
I : 5-8. 

When their faith failed He spoke: " Be 
of good cheer : it is I ; be not afraid. ' ' So 
He comforts us by His Word in the trials 
of our faith. 

These things I have spoken unto you, 
that in me ye might have peace. In the 



Gennesaret 85 

world ye shall have tribulation : but be of 
good cheer; I have overcome the world. 
—John 16: 33. 

When they knew Him, they willingly 
received Him. 

I am the good shepherd, and know my 
sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep 
hear my voice, and I know them, and 
they follow me. — John 10 : 14, 27. 

The purpose of life is fulfilled when we 
take Jesus into our hearts and lives. For 
all 'things are yours. Whether . 
the world, or life, or death, or things pres- 
ent or things to come; all are yours; and 
ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. — 
1 Cor. 3 : 21-23. 

" My bark is wafted on the strand 
By breath divine ; 
And on the helm there rests a Hand 
Other than mine. 

" One who was known in storms to sail, 
I have on board : 
Above the roaring of the gale, 
I hear my Lord. 



36 Spirit and Life 

" He holds me when the billows smite — 
I shall not fall ; 
If sharp, 't is short ; if long, 't is light — 
He tempers all. 

" Safe to the land ! safe to the land ! 
The end is this ; 
And then with Him go hand in hand 
Far into bliss." 

There is a picture of this scene upon 
Gennesaret by one of the masters. The 
storm is high; the boat is helpless; the 
men on board lift imploring hands. Peter 
starts to walk to Jesus, but begins to 
sink. The face of Jesus is calm; He 
knows the storm is under His control. 
Immediately He stretches out His hand 
to Peter. There is no loss of time when 
His disciple is in real danger. He catches 
him. Peter is not holding Jesus; the 
firm grasp of omnipotence is upon Peter's 
arm in answer to his cry for help. There 
is no need for both of Jesus' hands. One 
is enough. The other is raised with the 
question, '* O thou of little faith, where- 



Gennesaret %7 

fore didst thou doubt ? " It was in a 
moment of ecstatic faith that Peter started 
to walk the waves. Looking to Jesus, he 
was above them ; looking at the waves, 
he began to sink. Which was the true 
life ? The moment of faith, or the mo- 
ment of doubt ? 

O strong and mighty Saviour, O dear 
and blessed Friend ! Wherefore do I 
doubt ? 



88 Spirit and Life 



"THEY CRIED OUT FOR FEAR" 

{Matt. 14 : 26). 

Lord Jesus, I would not fear Thee 
Could I see Thee walking the sea ; 

'T is light on the boisterous billows 
When I know Thee coming to me. 

Lord Jesus, the wind is heavy, 

The stars are gone out from the sky ; 

Over the voice of the tempest 

Let me hear Thee say, " It is I." 

Jesus, my spirit is broken, 

Nor longer can breast the strong waves ; 
O reach forth Thy hand and catch me, 

Thy right hand which comforts and saves ! 

Come, Lord, as once in the night watch 

To toiling disciples of old ; 
Surely it is for my comfort 

Gennesaret's story is told. 

Lord, I have toiled all the night long — 
Thou hast reason, I know, for delay — 
But 't is the fourth watch, Lord Jesus, 

tarry no longer, I pray ! 

Casting off all that could hinder, 

1 would walk the waves to Thy side, 



Gennesaret 89 

But, Lord, my faith does not measure 
The rushing and merciless tide. 

Stretch forth Thy hand and deliver, 
And chide me, my Lord, if Thou will ; 

Shame for me, Jesus, to doubt Thee, 
Yet doubting, O pity me still ! 

Open my eyes to behold Thee, 
Let me know Thee coming to me. 

I would not fear Thee, Lord Jesus, 
Could I see Thee walking the sea. 

E. J. K. 



May 



More than Conquerors 

In all these things we are more than 
conquerors through Him that loved us. — 
Romans 8 : 37. 

A WINNER in life's battle,"— these 
were the words which held my 
gaze and stirred my soul's depths as I 
read a brief sketch of one whom I knew 
and loved years ago, and who had just 
entered upon her reward. A winner in 
life's battle — how true! I think of the 
peculiar trials of that life, and the rich, 
strong, helpful character of the woman 
who made even the trials minister to her 
highest success, never conquered by them, 
and I say, Yes — a winner indeed! More 
than a conqueror she. She carried away 
in her victorious grasp very much spoil. 
90 



More than Conquerors 91 

How much richer is the world for the 
life of such a woman ! How many through 
her influence and example have learned 
the secret of victory ! 

" We brought nothing into this world, 
and it is certain we can carry nothing 
out." This is true, indeed, of all material 
possessions. My hands may be full of 
silver and gold to-day. My possessions, 
as men count possessions, may be the envy 
of others less fortunate. But to-morrow 
these same hands may lie empty and help- 
less ; the silver and gold with all that it 
can purchase — except as it ministered to 
higher things — belongs to another. I can 
carry none of it out. But do I take noth- 
ing with me ? Ah, yes; the character I 
have gained, whatever sort it is, is my 
possession forever. Then 

How much better is it to get wisdom 
than gold, and to get understanding than 
silver ? — Proverbs 16: 16. 

We must see from the Word, if we 



92 Spirit and Life 

read, how intrinsically valuable every one 
of us is in the sight of God, and how the 
chief aim of Him who made and redeemed 
us is to bring each of us to the best and 
highest possible development. If we can 
only realize that to be happy and comfort- 
able is not the chief end of life, but that 
to be strong and true and pure — in a 
word, like Him who is " the chiefest 
among ten thousand, the one altogether 
lovely " — is the highest end of our being, 
we would stop looking for the easy places, 
and hiding away from all the discomforts, 
and mourning over the enemies to our 
progress. For, like the enemies of Israel, 
they are bread for us. — Numbers 14:9. 

We gain strength through our difficul- 
ties, and carry away very much spoil from 
every well fought battle. 

And Asa and the people that were with 
him pursued them unto Gerar: and the 
Ethiopians were overthrown, that they 
could not recover themselves; for they 



More than Conquerors 93 

were destroyed before the Lord, and be- 
fore His host ; and they carried away 
very much spoil. — 2 Chronicles 14: 13. 

The strength that comes from difficul- 
ties met and overcome is well worth all 
that it costs. 

There is in all of us a secret longing 
and in most of us a distant hope that 
some day we shall realize the meaning 
of the word victorious. The thought of 
victory rings through our souls like the 
peal of far-off bells, suggestive and sweet 
to the ear as it floats over hill and valley 
and through heavy mists, yet so far away 
that we cannot hope to reach the temple 
whence the glad sound comes, or to sit 
ourselves with the happy worshipers. 
Victory ? Ah, yes, for others, but not 
for me. I go about with such a humiliat- 
ing consciousness of defeat that some- 
times even the hope of a victory that shall 
have any permanence dies out of my 
heart. Most of my days are begun with 



94 Spirit and Life 

the expectation of conquering, but alas! 
the evening song is too often in the minor 
key and the refrain is : 

" Fever and fret and aimless stir, 
And disappointing strife, 
All chafing, unsuccessful things, 
Make up the sum of life." 

And judging from my present ill-success 
the hope of final overcoming is dim. I do 
not give it up altogether, for sometime I 
hope to be victor, but the joy of that 
hope is all gone out of me. I fail to have 
the earnest of it now. 

But, beloved, the gospel of the word 
to-day is the victor's song. 

Nay, but in all these things we are more 
than conquerors through Him that loved 
us. — Romans 8: 37. 

Not that I speak in respect of want : 
for I have learned in whatsoever state I 
am, therewith to be content. I know 
both how to be abased, and I know how 
to abound : everywhere and in all things 



More than Conquerors 95 

I am instructed both to be full and to be 
hungry, both to abound and to suffer 
need. I can do all things through Christ 
which strengtheneth me. — Philippians 
4: 11-13. 

Shall I talk of defeat, of being led cap- 
tive, of being the servant of sin or of cir- 
cumstances, when I can be more than a 
conqueror ? 

Know ye not that to whom ye yield 
yourselves servants to obey, his servants 
ye are to whom ye obey. — Romans 6: 16. 

For sin shall not have dominion over 
you. — Romans 6: 14. 

He will turn again, He will have com- 
passion upon us ; He will subdue our 
iniquities ; and Thou wilt cast all their sins 
into the depths of the sea. — Micah 7: 19. 

That He would grant unto us, that we 
being delivered out of the hand of our 
enemies might serve Him without fear, in 
holiness and righteousness before Him all 
the days of our life. — Luke 1 : 74, 75. 



96 Spirit and Life 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty 
wherewith Christ hath made us free, and 
be not again entangled in the yoke of 
bondage. — Galatians 5:1. 

We have a fashion of looking at other 
Christians and saying: " Oh, I suppose 
they never had trials such as I have. 
They have not the same nature to con- 
tend with. They can talk of trusting 
God, because they have nothing to try 
their faith. They can talk sweetly of for- 
giving their enemies, because they have 
nothing to forgive ; everybody is good to 
them ; they can be good, because they have 
nothing inside or outside to make them 
anything else. But it is not so with me ; 
beset on every side with peculiar trials, 
hampered by a peculiar temperament, 
hedged up as nobody ever was before." 
It would be a curious study if the inner 
life of one could be uncovered to another! 
What surprises we would meet! How 
ashamed some of us would be of our mis- 



More than Conquerors 97 

judgments of others, and of our own 
murmurings against circumstances! We 
would see how some among us who have 
reached a place of quiet victorious faith 
have really climbed there, pricked by 
many a thorn, struck by many a falling 
rock, encompassed by many an obscuring 
fog, yet have climbed through all to a 
blessed, heavenly outlook beyond the 
clouds, which more than repays all the 
cost of climbing. We would see the feet 
that seem so strong and steady have come 
through weary, devious ways, stumbling 
often, and faltering at many a point. We 
would see the hearts most at rest have 
come to it through the stormiest experi- 
ences. We would see struggles going on 
this moment in many hearts where we 
least suspect it ; and, more than all, we 
would see that those who seem the strong- 
est in faith and Christian principle are 
most conscious of weakness, and are lean- 
ing hard and close upon the Divine 



98 Spirit and Life 

Heart, conquerors ''through Him" al- 
ways, their watchword: " Not I, but 
Christ." The blessed book does not 
say, " He that has an easy time and gets 
through life with the least trouble shall 
inherit all things." But it does say, "He 
that overcometh shall inherit all things." 

He that overcometh, the same shall be 
clothed in white raiment ; and I will not 
blot out his name out of the book of life, 
but I will confess his name before my 
Father and before His angels. — Revela- 
tion 3:5. 

Him that overcometh will I make a 
pillar in the temple of my God, and he 
shall go no more out : and I will write 
upon him the name of my God, and the 
name of the city of my God, which is 
new Jerusalem, which cometh down out 
of heaven from my God : and I will write 
upon him my new name. — Revelation 
3: 12. 

To him that overcometh will I grant to 



More than Conquerors 99 

sit with me in my throne, even as I also 
overcame, and am set down with my 
Father in His throne. He that hath an 
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith 
unto the churches. — Revelation 3:21, 22. 

To him that overcometh will I give to 
eat of the tree of life which is in the 
midst of the paradise of God. — Revela- 
tion 2 : 7. 

Of course, all these promises to him 
that overcometh imply something to be 
overcome. And after all, though we 
think we have so much to hinder, and 
such a hard fight to gain the mastery, it 
is a good thing for us to have the contest. 
We shall be victors if we find out the 
secret of overcoming, and we never could 
become this if we had never had the 
enemy to meet. 

We glory in tribulation also, knowing 
that tribulation worketh patience; and 
patience, experience ; and experience, 
hope. — Romans 5 : 3, 4. 



ioo Spirit and Life 

What graces of true character are here, 
all inwrought and brought to perfection 
through tribulation ! That word means 
pressure, squeezing — a harrow. Life is 
made up of little things. The squeezing 
comes that way, the every-day trials press 
us most. The way we meet them goes 
very far toward making up character. 
The conflict and the conquest are not so 
much outside as within, in the hidden 
realm of the soul. Victory here means 
victory everywhere. Self-conquest is 
kingship. One has said: " Patience is a 
beautiful grace to look at, but a desper- 
ately hard one to live." St. James says: 
" Let patience have her perfect w r ork, that 
ye may be perfect, entire, wanting noth- 
ing." So then, " desperately hard " though 
it may be, it surely is worth the effort, if to 
gain this grace is to be " perfect, entire, 
wanting nothing." We are told by the 
blessed Master, in whom this lovely 
grace, amidst sorest provocation, was so 



More than Conquerors 101 

luminous, that we are to " hear the word, 
keep it, and bring forth fruit with pa- 
tience." How seldom do we see fruit or 
flower brought forth in perfection the 
very day the root or seed is planted ! 
Have patience, then, with yourself, dis- 
couraged friend. If the true seed is in 
the heart, nourish it, and patiently expect 
the fruit. ' ' For ye have need of patience, 
that after ye have done the will of God, 
ye might receive the promise." 

O that I might be patient! But how 
can I be, with all the worry and rush of 
these days! Ah ! these are just the 
things that cause this charming grace to 
grow. They are intended for that pur- 
pose, though seemingly so adverse. 

Knowing that tribulation worketh pa- 
tience." The little annoyances, the fric- 
tion that " rubs the wrong way," are the 
elements in which patience may most 
thrive. Who ever became patient when 
everything went well ? The most bless- 



102 Spirit and Life 

edly patient soul I know is one whose 
daily squeezing and harrowing have been 
exceptional. 

St. Paul tells us to be " gentle unto all, 
apt to teach, patient." We are more 
" apt to teach," as a rule, than to be the 
other thing. " Why cannot those chil- 
dren remember what I tell them ? " said a 
father in an irritated tone. It is well for 
parents to consider how many times they 
forget their Father's word to them, and 
how patient He has been through all the 
years. 

How shall we gain this crowning grace ? 
Not of ourselves alone, but through Him 
who is able to strengthen us " with all 
might, according to His glorious poiver, 
unto all patience and long-suffering with 
joyfulness." 

He that is slow to anger is better than 
the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit 
than he that taketh a city. — Proverbs 
16: 32. 



More than Conquerors 103 

Ah indeed ! If your own spirit — your 
self — is overcome, conquered, then you 
know what it is to be enriched with the 
spoils of victory. 

" Finding, following, keeping, struggling, 
Is He sure to bless ? 
Saints, Apostles, prophets, martyrs 
Answer, ' Yes.' " 

Jesus overcame His enemies by silence. 

And Jesus stood before the governor: 
and the governor asked Him, saying, Art 
Thou the King of the Jews ? And Jesus 
said unto him, Thou sayest. And when 
He was accused of the chief priests and 
elders, He answered nothing. Then said 
Pilate unto Him, Hearest Thou not how 
many things they witness against Thee ? 
And He answered him to never a word ; 
insomuch that the governor marveled 
greatly. — Matthew 27 : 1 1-14. 

And the chief priests accused Him of 
many things : but He answered nothing. 
—Mark 15:3. 



104 Spirit and Life 

Set a watch, O Lord, before my 
mouth : keep the door of my lips. — Psalm 

I4i:3. 

If any man offend not in word, the 
same is a perfect man, and able also to 
bridle the whole body. — James 3 : 2. 

If you covet strength and beauty of 
character, begin now to be more than 
conquerors in the every-day difficulties, 
within and without. We are either vic- 
tors or captives. Life is a struggle. If 
we enter the kingdom of heaven at all we 
enter through much tribulation. If it 
does not come in outward trial, it does 
come in the inner life of the soul. No 
Christian life is vigorous and fruitful that 
knows nothing of conflict. To float with 
the stream is not to float to broad and 
deep experience; we float toward the 
shallows. If we are making real prog- 
ress, Satan will put in our way many 
hinderances; if he does not, there is good 
reason to think he sees nothing to fear 



More than Conquerors 105 

for his kingdom from us. It is the 
stanch fighter he resists. 

The powers of the mind, like the 
muscles of the body, become strong and 
adapted to certain lines of action by use. 
It is not easy for one whose daily thought 
is concentrated upon business pursuits to 
go into deep lines of spiritual contempla- 
tion. The easy thing to do is to suffer 
the mind to flow on in the well worn 
channels; it is like turning water-courses 
upward to set the current toward the 
higher and the heavenly. What then ? 
Must the stream of true life sink away 
from sight in the meadows and lowlands, 
or shall it be so richly fed from the springs 
of God's eternal heights, that it shall 
make even meadows and lowlands fertile ? 
The Saviour said we must strive to enter 
into life eternal. He assures us that the 
kingdom of heaven, " which is righteous- 
ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," 
is never found in the natural course of 



106 Spirit and Life 

things, but " the violent take it by force." 
We need a great deal more of the athletic 
in our religion. While we cry " Halt! " 
in the rush for place and power and wealth 
in worldly things, we cry in spiritual 
things, " Awake, put on thy strength! " 

If the pressure of earthly care makes the 
spiritual sense dull of apprehension, let 
us somehow or other, by whatever effort 
it may cost, " enter into our closet and 
shut the door,'" and get an audience with 
God, which will be heard by Him and by 
ourselves as well. If the appetite for 
spiritual food is languid, let us insist 
upon taking the pure milk of the word 
until the healthy hunger of the soul re- 
turns. 

We are careful to use means to 
strengthen our bodies when weak; why 
not use like wisdom in the treatment of 
the spirit ? There are certain exercises 
of the soul which have great effect to 
brace its weakness and bring us up to 



More than Conquerors 107 

good spiritual health. They are recom- 
mended by the Great Physician. One is 
this: " Love your enemies; do good to 
them which hate you ; and pray for them 
that despitefully use you." This is a 
sort of exercise we would rather see 
used by others than ourselves. It is not 
easy doing, as we know if we have tried 
it in downright practical earnest. But 
it does mightily toughen the spiritual 
muscle ! 

We do not believe in the old ascetic 
doctrine of self-inflicted discipline. But 
we do believe there are forms of self-denial 
in many ways which are good for spiritual 
exercise, and we are in danger of hearing 
the Master say, " Come unto me and 
rest," more clearly than we hear the same 
voice saying, " If any man follow me, 
let him take up his cross daily and come 
after me." Strong meat, says St. Paul, 
is for those who, by reason of use, have 
their senses exercised to discern both 



108 Spirit and Life 

good and evil. Oh, how the world needs 
Christians of this sort, who can and do 
eat " strong meat," and have clear dis- 
cernment because of the sturdy use of 
their spiritual senses! 

The overcoming of every-day trifles 
leads up to the strength for greater vic- 
tories. No one was ever fitted for large 
responsibilities who suffered herself to 
be conquered by little worries, or appalled 
by common tasks. Hetty Ogle, in the 
telegraph orifice at Johnstown, saw the 
flood rushing toward her with angry haste, 
but firmly she stood at her post, doing 
the present duty, sending messages of 
warning over the wires, thereby saving 
many lives, though her own life paid the 
price of theirs. It was seeming defeat 
for her, for not a trace was ever found of 
her bruised and perhaps burned body. 
But her noble spirit, what of that ? We 
count her among our heroines to-day, but 
she did not become a heroine in a mo- 



More than Conquerors 109 

ment. Her life from early girlhood had 
been one of self-discipline and constant 
overcoming of obstacles, and in this su- 
preme moment the heroic character, which 
was the growth of years, shone with im- 
mortal luster. 

A woman of refinement by the force of 
circumstances was compelled to live out 
in the wilds near a coal-mine. She was 
grandly more than conqueror of her un- 
congenial surroundings by her cheerful 
acceptance of the situation ; and by de- 
voting herself to the welfare of the min- 
ers' families she " carried away much 
spoil " in their gratitude and in the good 
she did. 

A young Christian girl was always pres- 
ent at the prayer-meeting, but sometimes 
it was at the expense of her mother's 
comfort and strength, because her help 
was needed in the home. It was revealed 
to her by the Holy Spirit that what she 
had supposed was faithful religious ser- 



no Spirit and Life 

vice was pure selfishness. It was hard : 
but she met it fairly ; looked it full in the 
face, as every accusation of conscience 
should be met. She said to her mother: 
I have been selfish; if you will forgive 
me I will try to have a more Christian 
spirit." She hung this motto up in her 
room: 

" Content to fill a little space, 
If Thou be glorified." 

In her daily life since then it is even more 
apparent to others than to herself that 
she carried off much spoil from that vic- 
tory. 

A young woman, serving as kitchen- 
maid, was so discontented with her lot 
that she grew morose and ungracious, and 
lost all her Christian joy. A friend led 
her to see how wrong her spirit was. She 
fought the battle with herself alone with 
God, came out victor, and was so cheer- 
ful, thorough, and good, that she soon 



More than Conquerors 1 1 1 

found a more congenial position. More 
than conqueror! 

Now thanks be unto God, which always 
causeth us to triumph in Christ, and mak- 
eth manifest the savor of His knowledge 
by us in every place [leadeth us in 
triumph]. — 2 Corinthians 2: 14. 

The meaning of this verse is: He 
leadeth us in triumph, after the manner 
of a conqueror, acknowledged as such by 
all who see. We are not only enriched 
in ourselves by great spoils, but we have 
influence and leadership over others. 

What are the spoils you have won in 
conquering, whether over sin or sorrow ? 
Not only are you conscious of having 
gained the place of command instead of 
being led captive, but you have inward 
strength, calm confidence, knowledge of 
Christ, enlarged views of God, gentleness, 
love, meekness, brotherly kindness, en- 
richment of the whole being. Your trials 
are bread for you. Jesus was not only 



ii2 Spirit and Life 

victor, but He led captivity captive and 
gave gifts unto men. " As I have over- 
come, so will I grant to him that over- 
cometh." 

" It will sometimes be discovered that 
in actual life there are two kinds of heroes 
— heroes for the visible, and heroes for 
the invisible ; they that see their mark as 
a flag hung out to be taken upon some 
turret or battlement, and they that see it 
nowhere save in the grand ideal of the in- 
ward life : extempore heroes fighting out a 
victory definitely seen in something near 
at hand ; and the life-long, century-long, 
heroes that are instigated by no ephemeral 
crown or mere ephemeral passion, but 
have sounded the deep base-work of 
God's principle, and have dared calmly 
to rest their all upon it, come the issue 
where it may or when it may or in what 
form God may give it. The former class 
are only symbols, I conceive, in the visible 
life, of that more heroic and truly divine 



More than Conquerors 113 

greatness in the other, which is never 
offered to the eyes in forms of palpable 
achievement." 

How perfectly in accord with the Word 
is the thought in this quotation! God's 
heroes are not all written in history. 
Some of them are unknown even to their 
every-day companions. To those of us 
who live in " the daily round, the com- 
mon task," and yet have aspirations out- 
reaching our surroundings, how inspiriting 
it is to know that however we may seem 
to others, or to ourselves, God may count 
us in the ranks of His most courageous 
victors ! There are sweet surprises await- 
ing many a humble soul fighting against 
great odds in the battle of a seemingly 
commonplace life. It has never entered 
the thought of that gentle woman whom 
we met the other day, that her name stands 
among the first in the list of God's hero- 
ines. She rarely meets anyone outside of 
her family circle, except when she greets 



ii4 Spirit and Life 

her neighbors at the Sunday morning ser- 
vice. She is never seen in social gather- 
ings nor in conventions where other 
women have their souls stirred to do 
great and heroic things for the cause of 
truth, because she never has the oppor- 
tunity. Her hands are filled with ordi- 
nary tasks. An invalid in the household 
demands her thought and care ; and that 
which tests her heroism most is the agony 
of knowing that he who ought to be her 
strength and help does her cruel wrong by 
his selfish, sinful life. Yet you would not 
suspect her sorrow in the calm, bright 
face ; you hear no word of complaint from 
the guarded lips. That woman is not 
simply a meek sufferer — she is a joyful 
victor; for she has heard with spiritual 
ear the triumphant word of the Spirit, 
" To him that overcometh will I give to 
eat of the hidden manna." 

God's heroes are often entirely unrecog- 
nized, even by those who dwell in the 



More than Conquerors 115 

same household. One sees nothing in 
their outward life to call for the exercise 
of heroic qualities ; it would seem there 
is scarcely enough of trial to develop a 
good degree of spiritual strength. But 
there are mental struggles and self-con- 
quests, known to Him who discerns the 
secrets of the heart, which may place one 
high in the ranks of His nobility. 

The patient endurance of unjust judg- 
ments, the silent committal of misunder- 
standings toHim who judgeth righteously, 
the setting aside of personal preference 
for others when it is least appreciated — 
all these mark the heroic soul, and place 
it among the shining ones who " over- 
come "; for it is written, " Better is he 
who ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 
a city." To see one mark in the " grand 
ideal of the inward life," and to reach it 
by successive victories over self and sin in 
the most ordinary affairs of every day, 
may prove better for us in the end than 



n6 Spirit and Life 

to hold a conspicuous place even in the 
greatest and best causes. 

In the final contest, as pictured by the 
Revealer, when the hosts of evil make 
war with the Lamb, those that are with 
Him, going forth conquering and to con- 
quer, are " called and chosen and faith- 
ful," and doubtless many whose days 
have been spent in quiet country farm- 
houses, or in unobtrusive ways of life 
elsewhere, will occupy high places of 
honor in that victorious company. 



More than Conquerors 117 



THE MOUNTAINEER'S PRAYER. 

Gird me with the strength of Thy steadfast hills, 

The speed of Thy streams give me ; 
In the spirit that calms or the life that thrills, 

I would stand or run for Thee. 

Let me be Thy voice, or Thy silent power, 

As the cataract or the peak, — 
An eternal thought in my earthly hour, 

Of the living God to speak. 

Clothe me in the rose-tints of Thy skies 

Upon morning summits laid, 
Robe me in the purple and gold that flies 

Through Thy shuttles of light and shade. 

Let me rise and rejoice in Thy smile aright 

As mountains and forests do ; 
Let me welcome Thy twilight and Thy night, 

And wait for Thy dawn anew. 

Give me of the brook's song joyously sung 

Under clank of icy chain, 
Give me of the patience that hides among 

Thy hilltops in mist and rain. 

Lift me up from the clod, let me breathe Thy breath ; 

Thy beauty and strength give me ; 
Let me lose both the name and the meaning of death 

In the life that I live with Thee ! 

Lucy Larcom. 



yune 

What Do Ye More than 
Others ? 

And if ye salute your brethren only, what 
do ye more than others ? — Matthew 5 .• 4.J. 

IT is the glory of our blessed religion, 
the grace and truth which came by 
Jesus Christ, that it proposes to do more 
for humanity than any other religion or 
system of morals has ever proposed, and 
it consequently expects more of its fol- 
lowers. Not that it lays heavy burdens 
upon us, under which we must faint and 
despair ; no — other religions do that, 
while they promise so little in return for 
the effort. But our blessed faith holds 
out to us inspiring possibilities, a height 
of character, a plane of living, a " glory of 



More than Others 119 

helpfulness," a power to be and do for 
others, which shows that it never was 
born of human thought, but carries with 
it the impress of divinity. 

What, followers of Jesus, what do ye 
more than others ? The question is a 
challenge ; it is an inspiration too. It 
puts a Christian on his honor. It shows 
that we have " a high calling of God in 
Christ Jesus" — something better than 
the best outside of the life hid with Christ 
in God. 

Except your righteousness shall exceed 
the righteousness of the scribes and Phar- 
isees, ye shall in no wise enter the king- 
dom of heaven. — Matthew 5 : 20. 

Not that you shall not get to heaven, 
but you shall fall far short of the high 
honor and blessedness of participating in 
the purpose, spirit, and rewards of the 
kingdom here. 

What do ye more than others ? If you 
live according to standards of the world, 



120 Spirit and Life 

if you take its maxims as your guide, you 
do no more. Our faith is eminently 
practical. How do we compare in spirit 
and in outward life with those nearest us, 
in our own homes, who are not Christians ? 
It is said, a traveler once visiting the 
lighthouse at Calais said to the keeper: 
" But what if one of your lights should 
go out at night!" " Never — impos- 
sible! " he cried. " Sir, yonder are ships 
sailing to all parts of the world. If to- 
night one of my burners were out, in six 
months I should hear from America, or 
India, saying that on such a night the 
lights at Calais lighthouse gave no warn- 
ing, and some vessel had been wrecked. 
Ah, sir, sometimes I feel, when I look 
upon my lights, as if the eyes of the 
whole world were fixed upon me. Go 
out! Burn dim ! Never! Impossible!" 
Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the 
salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall 
it be salted? it is thenceforth good for 



More than Others 121 

nothing, but to be cast out, and to be 
trodden under foot of men. Ye are the 
light of the world. A city that is set on 
a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men 
light a candle, and put it under a bushel, 
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light 
unto all that are in the house. Let your 
light so shine before men, that they may 
see your good works, and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven. — Matt. $ : 1 3— 
16. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus 
gives us a philosophy of life very unlike 
the teachings of the world. He tells us 
how to live gloriously, victoriously ; pos- 
sessors of the kingdom. Nor has He 
given us theories, but practical principles 
which, by the power He Himself will put 
within us, we may show forth in our daily 
conduct. Nor has He given them to us 
for our profit alone : what we have learned 
of Him we are to use for the help of 
others. We, Christians, who have been 



122 Spirit and Life 

taught of the Spirit through the Word, 
are to be the salt of the earth, the light 
of the world. That ye may be blameless 
and harmless, the sons of God, without 
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and 
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as 
lights in the world. — Phil. 2:15. For ye 
were sometimes darkness, but now are ye 
light in the Lord : walk as children of 
light. — Ephesians 5 : 8. 

I wish we might get a new view of the 
responsibility, the dignity, the blessed- 
ness of being a Christian ; not for our own 
sakes so much as for the sake of others. 
It is a great joy to be of use. It was for 
the joy set before Him of saving this 
world that the Lord Jesus endured the 
cross, despising the shame. Did you ever 
feel a richer thrill in your heart than when 
someone said to you: " You have helped 
me so much — your words have been a 
blessing to me ; your life, as I have 
watched it, has been an inspiration and 



More than Others 123 

strength to me " ? There is no cup so 
sweet to the taste as this — the joy of 
doing good. It seems as if we might 
preface these words with the " blessed " 
of each beatitude. " Blessed are ye, for 
ye are the salt of the earth "; " Blessed 
are ye, for ye are the light of the world." 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal 
priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar 
people; that ye should shew forth the 
praises of Him who hath called you out 
of darkness into His marvelous light. — 
1 Peter 2 : 9. 

What is the standard of conduct for 
Christians ? One would think, judging 
from the sight of the eyes, that the an- 
swer to this question is, " Prevailing 
opinion." If the drift is in a certain 
direction, conviction and conscience seem 
to float with the tide. A few years ago, 
in the Church the theater-goers were 
conspicuous, and felt obliged to apologize 
for their indulgence to their more con- 



124 Spirit and Life 

scientious associates. Now the tide in 
that direction has gained such force in 
many churches, happily not in all, that 
the question of its consistency with a true 
Christian life is scarcely raised, or if raised 
is answered to seeming satisfaction with 
the announcement : ' ' Oh, everybody goes 
to the theater now ; sentiment has changed 
on that subject." 

We do not intend at present to discuss 
theater-going especially. That is only 
one of the many breaks in the old-time 
barriers between the gay world and the 
Christian Church. But this point of the 
true standard of conduct touches all ques- 
tions of conscience. There seems to be 
in the minds of many people a varying 
scale by which they determine the moral 
weight of actions according to the person- 
ality of those who perform them. One 
class of Christians, they say, may allow 
themselves certain indulgences which their 
own moral sense declares improper for 



More than Others 125 

others. We admit this sort of judgment 
as regards the relative propriety of these 
things for the people who make no pro- 
fession whatever of godly living, and for 
those who do make such a profession. 
But for such discriminations between 
Christians we can see no warrant in the 
Bible, or in sound philosophy and com- 
mon-sense. Where in all the Saviour's 
laws of conduct did He discriminate be- 
tween His followers? When He laid down 
the underlying principle of right living, 
He said to them all : " Whosoever will be 
my disciple, let him deny himself, and 
take up his cross daily, and follow me." 

Where in any of the apostles' teachings 
do we learn that a part of the Christian 
Church is under obligation to " do all to 
the glory of God," and the rest may 
glorify and indulge self " according to 
the course of this world "? Why should 
the members of a church be shocked 
at the thought of their minister attending 



126 Spirit and Life 

the various performances in which they 
themselves find so much pleasure ? They 
do feel so. They would honestly feel 
pained to remember on Sunday morning, 
as they listen to his spiritual teaching, that 
they had seen him during the week under 
such circumstances. Why ? Let us look 
the question fairly in the face, and see if 
there is any warrant for making these dis- 
tinctions. If the thing is right for any 
Christian, we believe it is right for all ; if 
wrong for any, it is wrong for all. We 
have beclouded conscience and " caused 
our weak brother to offend " too long by 
such false standards of conduct. The 
only safe and really honest thing for every 
professed follower of Jesus to do is to 
bring all questionable indulgences, all 
that have the possible savor of " the 
things that are in the world, the lust of 
the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the 
pride of life," to the Bible standard of 
Christian living, and decide accordingly. 



More than Others 127 

This standard is plain enough. Every- 
thing that helps to build up a true, noble, 
beautiful character; all that works har- 
moniously with God's plan for our per- 
sonal perfection or the extending of His 
kingdom among men, is right for a Chris- 
tian to enter into and enjoy. All that 
does not minister to these things is mani- 
festly out of the range of genuine Christian 
living. There is but one standard for all, 
and that standard is not popular opinion, 
but loyalty to Christ and to the extension 
of His kingdom in the hearts of men. 
Let the reason for our action in every 
case be the only honorable reason for a 
Christian, "for this is right" 

What do ye more than others as an 
antiseptic quality in society ? If the salt 
has lost its savor, it is henceforth good for 
nothing. Thrown out upon the roadways, 
it kills all vegetable life. This illustrates 
not only the uselessness but the harmful- 
ness of Christians who have no positive 



128 Spirit and Life 

convictions, who are so like the world in 
manner and spirit that no one can dis- 
cover any influence coming from them for 
good. Salt must be in the food, and in 
the substance in which we would arrest 
decay : so Christians must be in the world, 
but not lose their antiseptic quality. I 
pray not that Thou shouldest take them 
out of the world, but that Thou shouldest 
keep them from the evil. — John 17: 15. 

" And both Jesus was called, and His 
disciples, to the marriage." We have 
here one of several glimpses given us of 
the social life of the Lord Jesus, when for 
the time He was our fellow-citizen upon 
earth. He was invited to a marriage re- 
ception, and accepted the invitation ; and 
in other instances we find Him dining 
with a large company. His example, 
then, settles for us, as Christians, the 
question, "Is it right for me to enjoy 
social festivities ?" There was nothing 
ascetic in the life or teachings of Jesus. 



More than Others 129 

He kept Himself in sympathy with 
humanity; human joys, human relation- 
ships, as well as human sorrows, found in 
Him the responsive heart of a brother. 
Wherever He went, whether to the mar- 
riage or the burial, His mission was by 
His presence, His words, and His acts to 
brighten and cheer. At every social 
gathering in which we find Him, it is 
evident that there " He went about doing 
good," just the same as when He fed and 
healed the people by the wayside. 

His example, in respect to accepting in- 
vitations and enjoying social life, most of 
us are very ready to follow ; but how 
about our mission and our deportment at 
an evening reception ? As a rule, do we 
follow the Master there in going about 
doing good ? ' ' What ! would you have 
me talk only on religion, and urge every- 
body I meet to attend to their Christian 
duties, as if I were exhorting in a prayer- 
meeting ? " Oh no, surely not, unless 



130 Spirit and Life 

such a thing should come about most 
naturally and easily in the course of con- 
versation. 

But surely the " speech " of a Chris- 
tian should be " always with grace, sea- 
soned with salt"; that is, it ought to 
have something in it that is different from 
the vapid, senseless, and too often un- 
wholesome chatter of " society." 

Then, too, if one is in the spirit of it, 
there are abundant opportunities to say 
really helpful things here and there, which 
may even do more good than an out- 
and-out exhortation at a prayer-meeting. 
There are silent ways of doing good also. 
A marked silence in the face of wrong is 
often more eloquent than speech, and 
even the eyes of a Christian may be very 
effective in their expression of disapproval. 

Certainly no Christian woman is follow- 
ing her Master in doing good when she 
conforms to certain modes of dress now 
prevalent in society. We know this is 






More than Others 13 J 

delicate ground upon which we tread. 
But it is too serious a matter for Chris- 
tians to ignore. Mothers have a great 
responsibility just at this point, both as 
to their own example and in the training 
of their daughters. The world has not 
yet so far regained its Eden purity as that 
they have no need to heed the exhorta- 
tion to " adorn themselves in modest 
apparel, with shamefacedness and so- 
briety," in a manner " which becometh 
women professing godliness." 

There is one law for us all by which we 
may be in the world and yet " kept from 
the evil. " It is this : ' ' Whatsoever ye do 
in word or deed, do all in the name of the 
Lord Jesus. ' ' Following this rule, it may 
be said of every occasion, not that we are 
there without Him, but that " both Jesus 
and His disciples are called," and are 
together at the feast. 

There is a silent power which we exert 
whether conscious of it or not, as flowers 



132 Spirit and Life 

breathe their fragrance. A friend said of 
another whose character was pure and 
gentle, " An hour with that man does 
me more good than a sermon." Of Jesus 
it is said, virtue went out from Him. 
So it must be with His followers who are 
partakers of the divine nature. 

What do ye more than others in the 
spirit of forgiveness ? 

I say unto you, Love your enemies, 
bless them that curse you, do good to 
them that hate you, and pray for them 
which despitefully use you, and persecute 
you. — Matthew 5 : 44. 

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, 
and clamor, and evil' speaking, be put 
away from you, with all malice. And be 
ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, 
forgiving one another, even as God for 
Christ's sake hath forgiven you. — Eph- 
esians 4:31, 32. 

Be ye therefore followers of God, as 
dear children. — Ephesians 5:1. 



More than Others 133 

That ye may be the children of your 
Father which is in heaven : for He maketh 
His sun to rise on the evil and on the 
good, and sendeth rain on the just and 
on the unjust. — Matthew 5 : 45. 

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed 
him ; if he thirst, give him drink : for in 
so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on 
his head. Be not overcome of evil, but 
overcome evil with good. — Romans 12 : 
20, 21. 

What do you more in self-control ? 
For this is thankworthy, if a man for 
conscience toward God endure grief, suf- 
fering wrongfully. For what glory is it, 
if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye 
shall take it patiently ? but if, when ye 
do well, and suffer for it, ye take it 
patiently, this is acceptable with God. — 
1 Peter 2 : 19, 20. 

. And what are you as a Christian doing 
more than others in the grace of cheer- 
fulness ? Your face should be " like the 



i34 Spirit and Life 

morning while the days are going by." 
A Christian has no right to go about the 
world with a gloomy face. How it cheers 
you to meet a friend who gives you a 
bright salutation as you are going down 
the street ! We can scarcely measure the 
influence of our face and manner upon 
those with whom we associate, especially 
upon little children. 

There was a poor tired woman with 
whom things had gone wrong all day. 
She felt her lot was hard, to be baking 
and scrubbing while her neighbor just 
over the fence was lying at ease in her 
hammock out under the trees and singing, 

" Oh, nobody knows the trouble I see." 

Presently a door was opened softly, and 
her little daughter picked her way with 
prudent steps where the floor had not been 
wet, and climbed to a safe perch on the 
table. The mother mopped away, hoping 
she need not speak to her. If I open 



More than Others 135 

my mouth I shall say something cross," 
she thought, and kept her lips shut 
tightly. The little one watched her for 
a short time, bending her sunny head 
this way and that to study the downcast 
countenance, and finally she spoke. 
Mamma," said she, " I have hardly 
ever seen you without a smile on your 
face." The mother turned away for a 
moment's rapid thought. Was it indeed 
true that she had made such an impres- 
sion on that dear child's heart; and 
should she spoil it now ? Should she 
not rather set herself thenceforth to keep 
a smiling face through all life's petty 
trials ? How sweet to be remembered 
thus by all the children, and her husband 
too, for pleasant looks and ways! " One 
time when you looked sorry was when I 
was sick, and the other time was now," 
resumed the serious little voice ; and the 
child leaned her cheek upon her hand and 
sighed. The mop-handle dropped sud- 



13 6 Spirit and Life 

denly upon the floor, and two bare arms 
forgot their aches and pains and clasped 
the darling in a fond embrace. " Sing to 
me, Alice. Sing ' Nobody knows the 
comfort I have,' while I finish this patch 
of dirty floor. There 's one good thing 
about a little tucked-up kitchen, it does n't 
take long to scrub it! " 

A mother once said: " I find I cannot 
keep my house and temper both in per- 
fect order at the same time, so I do the 
best I can about my house, and care 
more about my temper." That was de- 
cidedly the proper thing for a Christian 
to do. 

What do ye more in the spirit of char- 
ity ? If anyone should be lenient to the 
faults and failings of others, surely it 
should be the Christian who has had 
much forgiven. And above all things 
have fervent charity among yourselves: 
for charity shall cover the multitude of 
sins. — i Peter 4: 8. 



More than Others 137 

" Dear moss," said the old thatch, " I 
am so old, so patched, so ragged, really 
I am quite unsightly. I wish you would 
come and cheer me up a little. You will 
hide my infirmities, and through your 
love and sympathy no finger of contempt 
or dislike will be pointed at me." " I 
will come," said the moss, and it crept 
up and over, and in and out, until every 
flaw was hidden and all was smooth and 
fair. Presently the sun shone out, and 
the old thatch looked glorious in its rays. 

How beautiful the thatch looks! " cried 
one and another. " Ah! " said the old 
thatch, " rather let them say, ' How 
beautiful is the love of the moss ! ' which 
spreads itself and covers all my faults and 
keeps the knowledge of them to herself, 
by her own grace casting over me a beau- 
tiful carpet of freshness and verdure." 

What do ye more than others in taking 
an interest in humanity ? "If you salute 
your brethren only, what do ye more 



i3 8 Spirit and Life 

than others ? " It has been said truly, if 
one is not stirred in soul and stirred to do 
something to help in view of the state of 
things around him, he had better inquire 
seriously into his own condition of heart. 
The impulse of the Christian should be 
that of helpfulness under all circum- 
stances. A young lady, while on her way 
home from Sunday morning service, came 
unexpectedly upon an old schoolmate in 
so thoroughly an intoxicated condition 
that she could scarcely walk. She had 
been seen by others, but they, like the 
priest and the Levite, had passed her by 
unheeded. The lady, greatly shocked, 
recognized her sad condition, and without 
a moment's hesitation, determined to take 
her home to her widowed mother. This 
could be done only by supporting her by 
her arm and half carrying her; in order to 
render this service, she must traverse the 
principal street of the town, and expose 
herself to the curious glances, and per- 



More than Others 139 

haps the uncharitable judgment, of those 
who might see her in so strange a posi- 
tion. Yet the help was resolutely ren- 
dered, and the erring daughter was 
returned to her anxious mother. 

St. Paul says: " Bear ye one another's 
burdens." It is a trite saying, but true, 
that men will not read their Bibles, but 
they will read you. We are living epistles 
of Christ, known and read of all men. In 
our work, in our home, many eyes are 
upon us. How will we meet this tempta- 
tion, with what grace will we bear this 
sorrow, with what patience will we endure 
this trial, with what fidelity will we meet 
this duty ? Jesus stands by every coun- 
ter, by every typewriter, by every mother, 
daughter, sister, and " with those eyes so 
pure and tender," waits to see if we re- 
flect His light steadily and clearly. Does 
it go out, burn dim ? Ah ! then you hide 
from somebody who needs Him so much, 
the world's Saviour. 



14° Spirit and Life 

They are asking, " Can any good thing 
come out of Nazareth ? ' ' Are we answer- 
ing, " Come and see " ? They are asking, 

Is there a balm in Gilead, is there a Phy- 
sician there ? " Are we answering, " Yes, 
for I have proved His power " ? Over this 
storm-swept sea of human sin and sor- 
row, many a brave seaman is stemming 
frightful tides. Frost-bitten, almost fro- 
zen to the heart, in the midst of the 
struggle they are looking out for the har- 
bor lights. They believe there is a harbor, 
but the rocks are on every side, and the 
tempest is hard to combat. Oh, what if, 
as they are seeking to enter the harbor of 
safety in the world's Redeemer, your 
light or mine should lead them astray, or 
should burn so dimly as to make them 
less sure that there is a harbor to be 
found ? 



More than Others 141 



EVENING. 

Slowly shadows creep over the lea, 
Deep'ning and lengthening silently, 
Stretching away toward the setting sun — 
Life's busy, bright day is almost done. 

In the early morn we started forth, 
When dew was fresh on the tender earth, 
And the happy songs on sweet air borne 
With an inspiration filled the morn. 

Not alone were we in those bright hours, 
For many and true the friendships ours ; 
And love grew ever more close and sweet, 
As we trod life's way with eager feet. 

But one by one they have stepped aside 
Into a bark on a mystic tide ; 
We strain our vision, but catch no gleam 
Of fading forms far over the stream. 

Then we closer clasp the hands that stay, 
And thoughtfully tread life's changing way ; 
And we watch the evening mists that rise 
From landscape gray to the glowing skies. 

As the night steals on I may not know 
What loving hand from my clasp shall go ; 
When the fading light of day is done 
I may stand by the river's brink alone. 

But beyond the twilight, day will rise ; 
Eternal glory brightens the skies ; 
A new, glad morning will be begun, 
Never to close with a setting sun. 

E. J. K. 



July 



My Care 



Casting all your care upon Him, for He 
caret h for you. — / Peter 5 : 7. 

MY weight of care — what shall I do 
with it ? I am very tired, and not 
very strong, and the weight is heavy, no 
matter how much I try to make light of 
it. The years, from which I hoped so 
much, have come and gone, and when I 
thought to have my care greatly lessened 
I find it increased. If I think to share it 
with another, and thus lighten it for my- 
self, I see that it is a grievous mistake. I 
only add to my friend's burden, and get 
no relief from my own. I suppose I must 
carry, it then, to the end, and grow old 
and heavy-hearted, with the luster gone 
142 



My Care 143 

from my eyes, and the song silent in my 
heart. 

But let me consider. Is this the 
only disposal that can be made of my 
care ? When I look at it squarely, with 
all its attendant circumstances, I do not 
see any probability of its removal; I 
think it has somehow grown into the 
fiber, so that the earthly life and the care 
will live and die together. The first 
thing, then, that I can do is to accept 
this fact courageously ; for a mind made 
up to take things as they are, when they 
cannot be altered, is itself a comfort and 
strength. 

I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, 
therewith to be content. I can do all 
things through Christ which strengthened 
me. — Phil. 4: 11, 13. 

I can also look over my burden care- 
fully, and see if there is anything in it 
which does not belong there. For in- 
stance, all this restless anxiety and ques- 



144 Spirit and Life 

Honing about the future regarding things 
temporal or eternal ought not to add its 
weight to my care, for the Lord has 
plainly told me that I cannot control 
those things any more than I can add 
one cubit to my stature, and that He 
does keep His own hand upon them to 
manage all for my good. 

And which of you by taking thought 
can add one cubit unto his stature ? If 
ye then be not able to do that which is 
least, why take ye thought for the rest ? 
And your Father knoweth that ye have 
need of these things. — Luke 12:24, 25, 
30. 

So, burdensome anxiety about these 
things is not legitimate care for a Chris- 
tian. There is, too, an undue solicitude 
about His work which surely it does not 
please Him to have me carry. He asks 
me only to be obedient and faithful and 
leave results with Him, and it seems like 
an impertinence really for me to be 



My Care 145 

anxious, as if God did not understand 
and could not manage the affairs of His 
own kingdom. 

So then neither is he that planteth any- 
thing, neither he that watereth ; but God 
that giveth the increase. — I Cor. 3 : 7. 

Having sorted it all over, however, and 
left out everything which ought not to 
rest with any discomfort upon me, there 
is still left a real care which appears to 
belong to my life. Well, then, it must 
be mine for my good. My Father never 
gave me a stone when I sincerely asked 
Him for bread. This care, therefore, is 
not to be a burden, crushing out my 
truest life, but as bread to nourish and 
strengthen it. How ? By bringing me 
into fellowship with Jesus. This un- 
avoidable sorrow and disappointment 
teaches me the fellowship of His suffer- 
ings; it reveals to me His compassion; it 
shows me how out of weakness He can 
make me strong; it brings me so near to 



H 6 Spirit and Life 

Him while I talk with Him about it that 
I feel as if the bitterness itself had almost 
turned to sweetness, because through it I 
have learned to know Him more perfectly. 
Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory 
in my necessary care, but the weight of it 
I will cast upon Him, for I know surely 
that He careth for me. 

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now 
for a season if need be ye are in heaviness 
through manifold temptations [trials]. 
That the trial of your faith, being much 
more precious than of gold that perisheth, 
though it be tried with fire, might be 
found unto praise and honor and glory at 
the appearing of Jesus Christ. — I Peter 
i : 6, 7. 

So, whatever my care, it need never be 
a burden. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, 
and He shall sustain thee: He shall never 
suffer the righteous to be moved. — Psalm 
55 : 22. The Lord also will be a refuge 
for the oppressed, a refuge in times of 



My Care 147 

trouble. And they that know Thy Name 
will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, 
Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek 
Thee. — Psalm 9:9. 

It was a day which promised to be full 
of hardships ; a day that would ruffle the 
spirit like wind-swept water. Opening 
her Daily Light upon the Daily Path, one 
read, " Thou wilt keep him in perfect 
peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, 
because he trusteth in Thee." 

Can it be possible ? Perfect peace ? 
He says so; I will test Him. My mind, 
so far as I am able to control it, shall be 
stayed upon Him. I will, as far as I can 
in my weakness, trust Him. Heavenly 
Father, help me faithfully upon my part 
to test the faithfulness of Thy word this 
day." Nothing was changed in the cir- 
cumstances of each hour, except that 
things were a little more trying than had 
been anticipated. But whenever her 
heart was about to give way she would 



1 43 Spirit and Life 

look up and say: " Thou hast said it, 
Lord. Thou wilt keep in perfect peace 
the mind that is stayed on Thee. How 
can it be stayed on Thee when things are 
so distracting and so hard ? But Thou 
wilt keep ! I give my mind into Thy 
keeping"; and, true to His word, He 
whispered peace in her heart so blessedly 
that when the day was over she said : " It 
has indeed been a hard day, but oh, so 
sweet ! I never should have known the 
preciousness of the promise if the need of 
testing it had not been so sorely pressed 
upon me." 

Thus writes another who has set to her 
seal that God is true : " It is a transform- 
ing, almost a glorifying, thing to gladly 
welcome, yes, pray for, all of God's will 
when the ' all ' evidently includes much 
pain and limitation. I do not understand 
how people can endure to live in this 
world without God and without hope. 
He is such a comfort and assurance to 



My Care 149 

me that if I had not already committed 
all to Him I would do so before finishing 
this letter. It took me a long time to 
get everything committed. There were 
a few reserves I wished to make. Chiefly, 
I did not wish to become dependent upon 
others, and I feared a chronic illness to- 
ward which I thought I might be tending. 
Finally, the good Father brought me 
where I was willing to become a street 
beggar and helpless if He saw it best. 
That gave me rest. It is so evident that 
we know nothing. Why should we rack 
our poor brains over problems we can 
never solve and conditions we can never 
change ? Better to refer the whole mat- 
ter to our Father, and simply obey and 
trust Him." 

It is interesting to remember that it is 
Peter who writes these words: " Casting 
all your care upon Him, for He careth 
for you," — Peter, who had so many 
marked experiences of the care of Jesus. 



150 Spirit and Life 

It seems as if he says to each one of us 
personally : 

4< Does life press heavily ? Is there 
something which gives you anxiety ? 
Let me tell you what to do. I can tell 
you, not only because I have been taught 
of the Spirit, but also because I have 
learned by experience. There was a time 
in my life when I did not know Jesus, the 
Saviour, the burden-bearer, the ' consola- 
tion of Israel.' I was a fisherman. I 
spent my life in daily toil — real hard 
work, earning just enough to keep myself 
and my family supplied with the necessi- 
ties of life. There was nothing very in- 
spiring or uplifting in the monotony of 
my toil. One day, as I was casting my 
net into the sea, — just doing my ordinary 
work, — Jesus passed by, and said to me 
and to my brother Andrew, who was with 
me, ' Follow me, and I will make you 
fishers of men.' I did not fully under- 
stand His call, but I knew it meant some- 






My Care 151 

thing better than working solely and only 
for my daily bread; so I followed Him. 
Oh, what a day was that for me ! It was 
the beginning of a new life. I began that 
day to learn what it meant that Jesus, the 
Redeemer of men, the Lord of heaven 
and earth, cared for me. I was still a 
fisherman. Many days after that I 
worked, and was weary ; but even my 
work seemed different, because I knew 
my mission ; while I toiled for necessary 
temporal supplies it was linked with 
higher things. He had said I should be 
a fisher of men ; He would use me in 
blessing others. I saw that He cared too 
much for me to let me be only a fisher- 
man, with no thought or purpose higher 
than my daily bread. Oh, what a day 
for every toiler when Jesus comes into 
the life!" 

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily 
as to the Lord and not unto men; know- 
ing that of the Lord ye shall receive the 



15 2 Spirit and Life 

reward of the inheritance : for ye serve 
the Lord Christ. — Col. 3: 23, 24. 

With good will doing service, as to the 
Lord, and not to men : knowing that 
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, 
the same shall he receive of the Lord, 
whether he be bond or free. — Eph. 
6:7, 8. 

" At another time, after He had risen 
from the grave, He showed His care for 
me by telling me where to cast my net ; 
so I know also that He can and does 
direct me in my work, and teach me how 
to be successful in it. He cared for me 
when my family was in trouble through 
illness. My wife's mother was sick with 
a fever. We told Jesus, and He came 
immediately and cured her. Once I was 
about to sink in the water, because I did 
not trust Him perfectly, but even then He 
cared for me, and put out His hand and 
caught me. After the Lord had ascended 
to heaven, I was shut up in prison be- 






My Care 153 

cause I had borne my testimony for Him 
among the Jews who crucified Him, and 
in answer to the prayers of my friends He 
sent His angel to open the prison doors." 

For He hath said, I will never leave thee 
nor forsake thee. — Heb. 13:5. 

And behold I am with thee, and will 
keep thee in all places whither thou goest. 
— Gen. 28: 15. 

And the Lord, He it is that doth go 
before thee; He will be with thee, He 
will not fail thee, neither forsake thee : 
fear not, neither be dismayed. — Deut. 

31:8. 

Be strong and of a good courage, and 
do it : fear not, nor be dismayed : for the 
Lord God, even my God, will be with 
Thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake 
thee, until thou hast finished all the work 
for the service of the house of the Lord. 
— 1 Chron. 28: 20. 

But oh, best of all, I know that He 
cares for me even when I have not been 



154 Spirit and Life 

true to Him. I denied Him before His 
enemies. I even said I had never known 
Him. those eyes when He turned 
and looked upon me ! I can never for- 
get ; it broke my heart. Such pitying, 
forgiving, entreating love ! And after 
His resurrection He sent Mary to tell me, 
the faithless one, that He had risen. Now 
I am an old man ; believe me when I tell 
you from a life of long experience that 
you may cast all your care upon Him, for 
He careth for you." 

With Peter's experience confirmed by 
the word of the Lord, we will 

" Drop our burden at His feet 
And bear a song away." 



My Care 155 



HE CARETH FOR ME. 

Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for 
you. — 1 Peter 5 : 7. 

What can it mean ? Is it aught to Him 
That the nights are long and the days are dim ; 
Can He be touched by the griefs I bear, 
Which sadden the heart and whiten the hair? 
Around His throne are eternal calms, 
And strong, glad music of happy psalms, 
And bliss unruffled by any strife — 
How can He care for my poor life? 

And yet I want Him to care for me, 
While I live in this world where the sorrows be. 
When the lights die down on the path I take ; 
When strength is feeble, and friends forsake ; 
When love and music, that once did bless, 
Have left me to silence and loneliness ; 
And life-song changes to sobbing prayers — 
Then my heart cries out for a God who cares. 

When shadows hang o'er me the whole day long, 
And my spirit is bowed with shame and wrong ; 
When I am not good, and the deeper shade 
Of conscious sin makes my heart afraid ; 
And the busy world has too much to do 
To stay in its course to help me through ; 



156 Spirit and Life 

And I long for a Saviour — can it be 

That the God of the universe cares for me ? 

Oh, wonderful story of deathless love ! 
Each child is dear to that heart above ; 
He fights for me when I' cannot fight ; 
He comforts me in the gloom of night ; 
He lifts the burden, for He is strong ; 
He stills the sigh and wakens the song. 
The sorrow that bowed me down He bears, 
And loves and pardons, because He cares. 

Let all who are sad take heart again — 
We are not alone in our hours of pain ; 
Our Father stoops from His throne above 
To soothe and quiet us with His love. 
He leaves us not when the storm is high, 
And we have safety, for He is nigh. 
Can it be trouble which He doth share ? 
Oh, rest in peace, for the Lord does care. 

Selected. 






August 



A Light in a Dark Place 

We have also a more sure word of proph- 
ecy ; whercunto ye do well that ye take heed, 
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. 
— 2 Peter 1 : 19. 

A FRIEND of mine, not long since 
visiting the Mammoth Cave in 
Kentucky, vividly describes the effect of 
a lamp shining in a dark place, and the 
utter helplessness of travelers in the dark- 
ness without that light. The guide went 
before with a lamp, by which they not 
only walked quite safely, but also saw 
the wonderful formations upon the walls 
of the cave, and its surprises in new open- 
ings constantly rising before them. Sud- 
denly the man with the lamp disappeared. 
Everyone stood still, afraid to take a 
157 



158 Spirit and Life 

step in the darkness and uncertainty. 
" What does it mean ? Where has he 
gone ? How shall we ever find our 
way either backward or forward ? ' ' They 
called ; no answer. For a few moments, 
which seemed long to the bewildered 
travelers, they waited in suspense. Sud- 
denly the cheerful voice of the guide 
called out, " See! "and as his light flashed 
before them, the most beautiful of all the 
places in the cave was revealed. He had 
only stepped into a recess where his light 
was hidden, that he might give them this 
pleasant surprise. 

What the great cave in its bewildering 
darkness was to my friend, this world is 
to human souls without the light of this 
precious word. I would like to talk with 
you, simply, earnestly, with the help of 
the Spirit, about your Bible — the book 
without which you and I are in helpless 
darkness whether we know it or not ; the 
book which, like the lamp of the guide, 



A Light in a Dark Place 159 

will not only conduct us safely through 
the difficult and dangerous places, but 
will also reveal to us the thoughts of God, 
beautiful and precious, like the sparkling 
stalactites hanging from the roof of the 
cave. 

There are fishes in the streams in 
this cave having " eyes which see not." 
The place for eyes is there as in other 
fish, but they have lived so long in the 
dark, this organ has become utterly use- 
less. It may be so with us. We have 
the ability given us to read and under- 
stand this book, but by long neglect we 
lose our power to comprehend it. It is 
a great loss. I earnestly pray that your 
Bible may be to you truly a lamp unto 
your feet, and that you will love it so 
that you will say as the prophet : 

Thy words were found, and I did eat 
them ; and Thy word was unto me the joy 
and rejoicing of mine heart. — Jeremiah 
15 : 16. 



160 Spirit and Life 

First of all, do you realize that your 
Bible is the word of God ? Is it not 
reasonable to believe that the God who 
made us and sent us into this world, 
would in some way make known to us 
His will; that He would give us some 
directions how to live; how to get out of 
any difficulties, and what to look forward 
to in that future, the prophecy of which 
is in every human consciousness ? There 
never was a time when this blessed book 
was the subject of so much intelligent 
scrutiny as now. Intellect and learning 
have turned their electric light upon it, 
and some have been so dazzled by this 
light that they have lost sight of the 
steady flame of the Lamp itself. But it 
burns without a flicker of doubt in the 
midst of high winds of criticism and gales 
of unbelief, for all who take it as the sure 
word of prophecy, which came not by the 
will of man, but by holy men who spoke 
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 



A Light in a Dark Place 161 

The entrance of the Word is giving light 
in every part of the world to-day, and we 
have more help for its study than ever be- 
fore. But do not let us take our instruc- 
tion too much through human channels. 
There is no preaching, no Bible readings, 
that can take the place of a personal ac- 
quaintance with one's own Bible. No 
one can be a strong, growing Christian 
who does not " feed upon " the sincere 
milk, as well as the strong meat, of the 
Word. Let us take it without human 
comment, as it is given to us by the Great 
Teacher, the Holy Spirit. It is beyond 
the reach of highest intellect to under- 
stand, but even a child by reading it is 
made wise unto salvation. Let it speak 
for itself in its own inspired words. 

For this cause also thank we God with- 
out ceasing, because, when ye received the 
word of God which ye heard of us, ye re- 
ceived it not as the word of men, but, as 
it is in truth, the word of God, which 



1 62 Spirit and Life 

effectually worketh also in you that be- 
lieve. — i Thessalonians 2:13. [That is 
to say, it shows its energy in its practical 
effects on you that believe.] 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel 
of Christ : for it is the power of God unto 
salvation to everyone that believeth ; to 
the Jew first, and also to the Greek. — 
Romans 1 : 16. 

Ye shall not add unto the word which I 
command you, neither shall ye diminish 
aught from it, that ye may keep the com- 
mandments of the Lord your God which 
I command you. — Deuteronomy 4: 2. 

For what is it given us ? 

But continue thou in the things which 
thou hast learned and hast been assured 
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned 
them ; and that from a child thou hast 
known the holy Scriptures, which are able 
to make thee wise unto salvation through 
faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scrip- 
ture is given by inspiration of God, and is 



A Light in a Dark Place 163 

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
correction, for instruction in righteous- 
ness. That the man of God may be per- 
fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
works. — 2 Tim. 3: 14-17. 

For doctrine, such a standard is needed 
especially now. 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that 
in the latter times some shall depart from 
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, 
and doctrines of devils. — 1 Timothy 4: 1. 

I charge thee therefore before God, and 
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge 
the quick and the dead at His appearing 
and His kingdom ; preach the word ; be 
instant in season, out of season ; reprove, 
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and 
doctrine. For the time will come when 
they will not endure sound doctrine ; but 
after their own lusts shall they heap to 
themselves teachers, having itching ears; 
and they shall turn away their ears from 
the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 



164 Spirit and Life 

But watch thou in all things, endure 
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, 
make full proof of thy ministry. — 2 Tim- 
othy 4: 1-5. 

If any man teach otherwise, and con- 
sent not to wholesome words, even the 
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to 
the doctrine which is according to godli- 
ness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but 
doting about questions and strifes of 
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, rail- 
ings, evil surmisings. — 1 Timothy 6: 3, 4. 

The wise men are ashamed, they are 
dismayed and taken : lo, they have re- 
jected the word of the Lord; and what 
wisdom is in them ? — Jeremiah 8 : 9. 

The wisdom of what ? Who shall 
answer ? 

To the law and to the testimony : if 
they speak not according to this word, it 
is because there is no light in them. — 
Isaiah 8 : 20. 

Holding fast the faithful word as he 



A Light in a Dark Place 165 

hath been taught, that he may be able by 
sound doctrine both to exhort and to 
convince the gainsayers. — Titus I : 9. 

For reproof also; telling a fault, con- 
vincing and convicting of sin. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, convert- 
ing the soul: the testimony of the Lord 
is sure, making wise the simple. The 
statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing 
the heart : the commandment of the Lord 
is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear 
of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: 
the judgments of the Lord are true and 
righteous altogether. More to be desired 
are they than gold, yea, than much fine 
gold : sweeter also than honey and the 
honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy 
servant warned : and in keeping of them 
there is great reward. — Psalm 19:7-11. 

By the law is the knowledge of sin. — 
Romans 3 : 20. 

Was then that which is good made 
death unto me ? God forbid. But sin, 



1 66 Spirit and Life 

that it might appear sin, working death 
in me by that which is good ; that sin by 
the commandment might become exceed- 
ing sinful. — Romans 7: 13. 

Is not my word like as a fire ? saith the 
Lord ; and like a hammer that breaketh 
the rock in pieces ? — Jeremiah 23 : 29. 

For the word of God is quick, and 
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 
sword, piercing even to the dividing asun- 
der of soul and spirit, and of the joints 
and marrow, and is a discerner of the 
thoughts and intents of the heart. — He- 
brews 4: 12. 

We are to be judged by the Word. 

And if any man hear my words, and 
believe not, I judge him not: for I came 
not to judge the world, but to save the 
world. He that rejecteth me, and re- 
ceiveth not my words, hath one that 
judgeth him : the word that I have 
spoken, the same shall judge him in the 
last day. — John 12:47, 48. 



A Light in a Dark Place 167 

It is a serious mistake, then, to measure 
our conduct and spirit by the standards 
of society. It makes little difference 
what men think is right ; the question for 
us is, What does God say in His Word ? 
It is important to know the standard by 
which we are to be judged at the last day. 

For correction. This is the same Greek 
word as in Luke 13 : 13, where the woman 
bowed together with infirmity and could 
in no wise lift up herself, was " made 
straight." Nothing cures our infirmities 
and makes us straight like the study of 
the Word. David says: " I will walk at 
liberty, for I seek Thy precepts." The 
people who grow crooked through a too 
free conscience, or who are bent over and 
bowed down by a too rigid conscience, 
are not the people who know or love the 
Bible best. 

It seems as if God had reserved for 
these days of questioning and unbelief 
the secrets of the buried cities of Bible 



1 68 Spirit and Life 

times. There is nothing of more thrilling 
interest than the discoveries of tablets, 
long buried under the dust of ages, which 
confirm the very statements of Scripture 
which some scholars have questioned. 
The stories of Egypt, of the captivity, 
the deliverance, the wars with the Canaan- 
ites, and with Babylon, just as we find them 
recorded in the books of the Pentateuch, 
are confirmed by these ancient tablets. 
The Sabbath, that blessed institution 
which God gave us, " that it might be 
well with us, and with our children for- 
ever," would not be known if we had not 
learned of it in the Bible. In the latter 
days men and women are questioning its 
divine sanctity and origin. It is a de- 
vice of men, they say — not the command 
of God. A recent tablet has been found 
in Babylonia, showing that the institution 
of the Sabbath dated far back, beyond 
the law of Moses, to the beginning, just 
as the Bible tells us, and that the day was 



A Light in a Dark Place 169 

kept by those ancient people with even 
what we call Pharisaic strictness, and 
that the meaning of its name is " A day 
of rest for the heart." The people who 
work surely should prize the book which 
tells of a day of rest. 

It is no time now for us to doubt this 
sure word of prophecy. Much of it has 
been fulfilled ; all of it will be. We live in 
the days of its fulfillment, and blessed are 
they who are found watching. 

Do you say: I do not love my Bible; 
I cannot feel interested in it as I know I 
should " ? My friend, travelers might as 
well say, " I do not love my guide-book; 
I cannot feel interested in it." But how 
are they going to find their way to all the 
delightful places without it ? Well, they 
never do. And that is just the reason so 
many Christians are staying, spiritually, in 
malarial places, trying various tonics and 
afflicted with various infirmities, when, if 
they would only consult the guide-book, it 



i7° Spirit and Life 

would direct them to green pastures, living 
waters, glorious hills, and glowing skies, 
where they would take in spiritual health 
and strength with every breath. 

Perplexing ways are before us all ; tan- 
gled thickets, foggy nights, blinding 
storms. Well will it be for us if we have 
studied our guide-book thoroughly in the 
light. 

And let us remember the only light 
which is clear, and never misleads, is the 
light of the Holy Spirit. " He shall guide 
you into all the truth." Do not get be- 
wildered by what anyone says about the 
Bible. Read it for yourself, and take the 
Holy Spirit for your teacher. The Bible 
was not written for "literature," although 
it is foremost among literary productions. 
It was not written for scientific teaching, 
although its intimations of scientific truth 
have probably been misunderstood largely 
because men have not discovered the 
wonders of nature as God knows them. 



A Light in a Dark Place 17 l 

It was not written for history, although 
its records of ancient nations besides that 
of the Hebrews are invaluable. 

One purpose runs through all the book, 
in poetry, prophecy, history — only one ; 
that is, salvation. From beginning to 
end, if we read in the light of the Spirit, 
we see Christ the Saviour of men. This 
is the mystery of the saving power of the 
Word. Other books appeal to the mind 
and the heart ; this goes through the 
mind and the heart into the deepest 
being, the inner self. 

The recitals of the sins of men and of 
nations, from which one revolts who reads 
them without the help of the Holy Spirit, 
show the steady, unchanging purpose of 
God to overthrow wickedness and estab- 
lish righteousness. " I am the Lord, I 
change not," is written in every line for 
the encouragement of all faithful be- 
lievers. 

The inherent power of the Word to ac- 



17 2 Spirit and Life 

complish the purpose for which it was 
written — that is, salvation — was illus- 
trated recently in the case of a Japanese 
gentleman on a business visit to this 
country. He was stopping at one of the 
hotels in New York, and one evening 
took up a book lying on the table in his 
room, and, being a good English scholar, 
he became interested in reading it. It 
was a copy of St. John's gospel. The 
story fascinated him ; the pathos of the 
trial and crucifixion of Jesus touched 
him ; the conversation of the Lord with 
Nicodemus brought conviction of the 
need of his own soul. He inquired at 
the hotel where he could find a Christian 
teacher, and was directed to a well-known 
pastor of a large church near by. Several 
interviews were had ; the way of salvation 
by faith in Jesus was carefully and prayer- 
fully explained, and before the " stranger 
and foreigner " left this country for Japan 
he became, by Christian baptism, a " fel- 



A Light in a Dark Place 173 

low-citizen with the saints and of the 
household of God. ' ' This is one of many 
similar instances constantly taking place. 
The Word of the Lord is tried. It is a 
sure foundation for our faith. We can- 
not afford to doubt it. To the simple, 
devout, spiritual soul it is " sweeter than 
honey in the honeycomb." Cast not 
away, therefore, your confidence in it, 
for such confidence has indeed " great 
recompense of reward." 

A light in a dark place. Yes ; that day 
when a shadow fell across the threshold, 
as the messenger came to take the dearest 
of all from your home, it was very dark. 
But you opened your Bible at the four- 
teenth chapter of John, and you read 
about Jesus going to a place, a real place, 
with nothing intangible or doubtful about 
it, and that He was coming to take His 
loved people to be with Him in His 
Father's house. And you read in Revela- 
tion about the city so holy and clean no 



174 Spirit and Life 

sorrow can breathe in the air, and that 
there all tears are wiped from all faces. 
And you read that because Jesus is the 
resurrection and the life, your beloved 
who believed in Him were never touched 
by death ; and as you read, that dark 
shadow melted away in sunlight. 

You had to walk through places darker 
even than the shadow of death, and the 
light shone from 2 Corinthians 4: 16, 17: 
For which cause we faint not ; but though 
our outward man perish, yet the inward 
man is renewed day by day. For our light 
affliction, which is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory. You were dis- 
couraged about your work, and a ray fell 
upon you from 1 Corinthians 15:58: 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding 
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as 
ye know that your labor is not in vain in 
the Lord; and from 2 Chronicles 16:9: 



A Light in a Dark Place 175 

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro 
throughout the whole earth, to show 
Himself strong in the behalf of them 
whose heart is perfect toward Him. 

The darkness of sin was upon your 
heart, and you read : Come now and let 
us reason together, saith the Lord : 
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall 
be as white as snow ; though they be red 
like crimson, they shall be as wool. — Isaiah 
1 : 18. And: If we confess our sins, He 
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness. — 1 John 1 : 9. 

You were ill and you saw a great light 
shining in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10: For 
this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 
that it might depart from me. And He 
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for 
thee : for my strength is made perfect in 
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I 
rather glory in my infirmities, that the 
power of Christ may rest upon me. 



176 Spirit and Life 

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, 
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecu- 
tions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for 
when I am weak, then am I strong. 

You were in straits, and there were stars 
in the night when you read : But my God 
shall supply all your need according to 
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. — 
Philippians 4: 19. 

And God is able to make all grace 
abound toward you, that ye always having 
all sufficiency in all things may abound 
unto every good work. — 2 Corinthians 

9:8. 

And then when worst came to worst, 
you read : " Hope thou in God, for I shall 
yet praise Him who is the health of my 
countenance and my God," and you were 
sure the day was coming, for " God is 
light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 

Never was a greater fallacy or more 
misleading word than this: " It makes no 
difference what a man believes, if he is 



A Light in a Dark Place 177 

only sincere." Did it make no difference 
to the woman who sincerely believed she 
was eating mushrooms, while she was 
eating toadstools ? A man indorsed a 
note for one he sincerely believed was 
honest and solvent, and he had to pay 
the debt. You may take a train believ- 
ing you are going to Boston, and it may 
land you in Chicago. Ye do well that ye 
take heed unto the sure Word. 

Mrs. Annie Besant says: " Theosophy 
is a restatement of the fundamental 
principles of religion adapted to nine- 
teenth-century needs. Many thoughtful 
persons have outgrown the old orthodox 
needs, and we offer them a religion 
founded on scientific principles." The 
nineteenth-century heart finds its needs 
met in the dear old book, the same as 
when centuries ago the one hundred and 
nineteenth psalm was written. 

To accept with all the heart the prom- 
ises of the Father in His Word — ah, here 



i7 8 Spirit and Life 

is a mine of wealth any jeweled prince 
might covet ! On some misty day, when 
you feel poor and forsaken, open the 
casket wherein the Father has placed 
within your reach His promise-jewels. 
Count them over. Hold them up, and 
see how they sparkle and glow in the 
light of His face. Take up this one, and 
see what untold wealth it represents : 
" When the poor and needy seek water, 
and there is none, and their tongue faileth 
for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I 
the God of Israel will not forsake them. 
I will open rivers in high places, and 
fountains in the midst of the valleys: I 
will make the wilderness a pool of water, 
and the dry land springs of water." 
Surely, to accept with all the heart such 
a promise as this, is to find joy in the val- 
ley, refreshment in the wilderness, pleas- 
ant walking even in the dry and dusty 
road. 

There stands a great museum. You 



A Light in a Dark Place 179 

are told that it is full of treasures. You 
visit it ; enjoy part of it ; wonder at more ; 
and turn away with little interest from 
much that is there. But suppose one 
who knows all about those treasures, and 
who could explain and make everything 
interesting to you, should take you 
through it, what revelations you would 
have ; how much you would learn ; how 
much you could tell to others ! The 
Holy Spirit takes of the things of Christ 
and shows them unto us. Let our 
prayer be, "Open Thou mine eyes that 
I may behold wondrous things out of 
Thy law." 



180 Spirit and Life 



A SUMMER BENEDICTION. 

O happy one, for whom the days 

Of summer break in wonder signs, 
Whose life grows pure — tuned to the praise 

Of God's own mountain priests, the pines, — 
Lay down thy chain of cares and ills 

Beneath some mighty, sun-smit crest, 
And, folded by the loving hills, 

Rest in the Lord. 

Rest! 

O favored spirit, who shall breathe 

The wild, white incense of the sea, 
And watch time's lights and shadows wreathe, 

Yet dream of all eternity ; 
Forget thine old reward or blame, 

Forget thy little goal and quest, 
Wrapped by the peace that hath no name, 

Rest in the Lord. 

Rest ! 

O home-bound soul, whose household round 

Is broken by no holiday, 
Open thy doors to scent and sound, 

Let slimmer meet thee on thy way ; 
Gather its glory and its balm, 

Make ready for thy royal guest 



A Light in a Dark Place 181 

A shrine of sweet, perpetual calm, 
Rest in the Lord. 

Rest ! 

And thou, O toiler in the heat, 

Whose eyes nor birds nor blossoms cheer, 
Against whose thirst and longing beat 

The blaze and burden of the year ; 
For thee the cold, white stars are born, 

For thee night veils the burning west ; 
From crimson eve till golden morn 

Rest in the Lord. 

Rest! 
Ellen Hamlin Butler. 



September 



His Jewels 



And they shall be mine, saith the Lord 
of Hosts, in that day when I make up my 
jewels, and I will spare them, as a man 
spareth his own son that serveth him. — 
Ma lac hi j : 17. 

IT is said that Russia has the finest col- 
lection of gems in the world. The 
cold, hard climate and unyielding soil of 
Siberia is a rich field for their production. 
And all the precious stones found there 
belong to the Crown. Gathered from the 
rough, pebbly soil, they are taken to the 
Government works, cut and polished, and 
the choicest are selected and kept for the 
imperial treasury. Who would expect to 
gather the rarest jewels from the cold, 
hard north ? Who would expect to find 



His Jewels 183 

the Lord's purest and brightest ones 
among the bitter experiences of this 
world ? Yet it is there He gathers them, 
perhaps even more than from those lives 
of gladness which flow like rivers of the 
sunny south, for His special treasure. 

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord 
of Hosts, in that day when I make up my 
jewels, and I will spare them, as a man 
spareth his own son that serveth him. 

Special treasure, the margin reads, 
the sorted out. Who says, " they shall 
be mine" ? The Lord of Hosts, our 
King, — He of whom it is said : Worthy 
is the Lamb that was slain to receive 
power, and riches, and wisdom, and 
strength, and honor, and glory, and 
blessing. — Revelation 5:12. 

What an honor to be called His in the 
presence of such a company ! His special 
treasure, not only because purchased by 
Him, but His by the highest possession 
of love. 



184 Spirit and Life 

Of whom is it said, " they shall be 
mine " ? Then they that feared the Lord 
spake often one to another: and the Lord 
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of 
remembrance was written before Him for 
them that feared the Lord, and that 
thought upon His name. — Malachi 3 : 16. 

These are in strong contrast with the 
people spoken of in verses 13, 14, and 15 : 
Your words have been stout against me, 
saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have 
we spoken so much against Thee ? Ye 
have said, It is vain to serve God : and 
what profit is it that we have kept His 
ordinance, and that we have walked 
mournfully before the Lord of Hosts ? 
And now we call the proud happy ; yea, 
they that work wickedness are set up; 
yea, they that tempt God are even de- 
livered. 

They spoke often one to another. Out 
of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh. My soul shall be satisfied — 



His Jewels 185 

and my mouth shall praise Thee with 
joyful lips. — Psalm 63: 5. 

The Lord hearkened and heard. There 
is more in this expression than merely 
hearing and answering. It means that He 
gave interested attention, " bent over to 
hear," and responded to what His people 
were saying. This is the sweet fellowship 
of the believer with God. It surprises us 
to think that He can really care about 
what we say or think of Him. But God 
is love, and expressions of affection and 
praise are sweet to the ear of love. 
Whenever we talk to one another of His 
goodness He hears; when any dear soul, 
unknown to the world, and never heard 
of outside of her own little circle, speaks 
lovingly and gratefully of Him, He bends 
over to listen. That which we have seen 
and heard declare we unto you, that ye 
also may have fellowship with us : and 
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and 
with His Son, Jesus Christ. — I John I 13. 



1 86 Spirit and Life 

A book of remembrance was written 
before Him. Does He care so much, 
that He keeps in a book what we say ? 
Oh, I wonder if I ever said anything of my 
God, loving and tender and grateful 
enough for Him to remember ! I hope 
He will forget the distrustful and un- 
thankful things I have said. I pray that 
He may cast them behind His back, with 
my sins forever. 

There is one writing of remembrance 
that I am glad to think of: Behold, I 
have graven thee upon the palms of my 
hands. — Isaiah 49: 16. 

Those pierced hands — when I think of 
them I am no longer afraid of God's book 
of remembrance of me, for He hath re- 
membered His covenant forever. — Psalm 
105:8. 

The book was kept for them that 
thought upon His name. It means more 
than thinking of Him. The word signifies 
that they were careful for the honor of 



His Jewels 187 

His name. As His friends, they would 
bring no reproach upon it. His word, 
His cause, were dear to them; the in- 
terests of His kingdom were first in their 
thoughts. These are they which follow 
the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth. — 
Revelation 14:4. They are the sealed 
ones of whom we read in Revelation, 
seventh chapter, and in Ephesians 4 : 30 : 
Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, 
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of 
redemption. 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me 
before men, him will I confess also before 
my Father which is in heaven. — Matthew 
10:32. 

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed 
of me and my words, in this adulterous 
and sinful generation, of him also shall 
the Son of man be ashamed, when He 
cometh in the glory of His Father with 
the holy angels.— Mark 8: 38. 

These, then, are His jewels, who, out of 



1 88 Spirit and Life 

loving hearts, talked of Him, thought of 
Him, and honored His name. 

Now therefore, if ye will obey my 
voice indeed, and keep My covenant, 
then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto 
me above all people : for all the earth is 
mine. And ye shall be unto me a king- 
dom of priests, and a holy nation. These 
are the words which thou shalt speak 
unto the children of Israel. — Exodus 
19: 5, 6. And ye shall be holy unto me: 
for I the Lord am holy, and have severed 
you from other people, that ye should be 
mine. — Leviticus 20: 26. 

I will say to the north, Give up; and to 
the south, Keep not back: bring my sons 
from far, and my daughters from the ends 
of the earth : Even everyone that is called 
by my name. — Isaiah 43 : 6, 7. 

" He will gather, He will gather 
The gems for His kingdom ; 
All the pure ones, all the bright ones, 
His loved and His own." 



His Jewels 189 

How does He keep His jewels ? In the 
twenty-eighth chapter of Exodus, we read 
of twelve precious stones, representing all 
God's people, set in the breastplate of 
the High Priest, which he bore upon his 
breast continually. They were hidden 
there. " Your life is hid with Christ in 
God." — Colossians 3 : 3. 

Borne on his heart they were represent- 
ed at the mercy seat, and entered with him 
into the holiest place. Having therefore, 
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest 
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and liv- 
ing way, which He hath consecrated for 
us, through the vail, that is to say, His 
flesh ; and having an high priest over the 
house of God ; let us draw near with a 
true heart in full assurance of faith, hav- 
ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil con- 
science, and our bodies washed with pure 
water. Let us hold fast the profession of 
our faith without wavering ; for He is faith- 
ful that promised. — Hebrews 10: 19-23. 



190 Spirit and Life 

The high priest also had the names of 
the twelve tribes in jewels on his shoulder, 
which signifies the place of power. The 
Lord's own, His chosen ones, are carried 
on His heart of love, and on His shoulder 
of strength. I love to repeat the true 
story of poor Jack, who, without ordinary 
earthly wisdom, had learned much of the 
wisdom of heaven. He was dying, and 
one who had always been a good friend to 
him asked him if he was afraid. " Oh, 
no, not the least afraid," he said. — "Why, 
have you never done anything bad, 
Jack ?" " Oh, yes, much bads," he said. 
" God had a whole page against him. But 
when he first prayed to Jesus, He took 
the book out of God's hands and drew 
His own pierced hand over the page so 
that every sin was blotted out, and God 
could see nothing but Jesus' blood. And 
when he came to stand before Him, while 
He held the book up to the sun, God 
would say, ' No, nothing there against 



His Jewels 191 

Jack.' Then God would shut the book 
and the Lord Jesus. Christ would come 
and put His arm around him and say, 
' My Jack,' and bid him stand with the 
angels till the rest were judged." 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that 
heareth my word, and believeth on Him 
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and 
shall not come into condemnation ; but 
is passed from death unto life. — John 
5 : 24. In whom ye also trusted, after 
that ye heard the word of truth, the gos- 
pel of your salvation : in whom also, after 
that ye believed, ye were sealed with 
that Holy Spirit of promise, which is 
the earnest of our inheritance until the 
redemption of the purchased possession, 
unto the praise of His glory.— Ephesians 
1: 13. 

It is, then, a matter of great moment 
to be sure that we are among the sealed 
ones; genuine jewels that will stand any 
test. 



192 Spirit and Life 

Then shall ye return, and discern be- 
tween the righteous and the wicked, be- 
tween him that serveth God and him that 
serveth Him not. — Malachi 3: 18. 

There is a difference, eternal, unchange- 
able, between those who are only God's 
professed children and God's own. Jesus 
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
Except a man be born of water and of the 
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of 
God. That which is born of the flesh is 
flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit 
is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto 
thee, Ye must be born again. The wind 
bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest 
the sound thereof, but canst not tell 
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : 
so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. 
—John 3 : 5-7. 

Every kind of gem has been imitated to 
such a degree of similarity that even the 
most experienced eye can only detect the 
difference by the closest scrutiny. But 



His Jewels 193 

there is a lack of hardness and perma- 
nency in the artificial gems which, after a 
time, shows their true character. And 
there are tests known to the dealers which 
readily distinguish gem from gem, the 
true from the false — the God-made jewel 
from the man-made imitation. Every 
man's work shall be made manifest: for 
the day shall declare it, because it shall 
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try 
every man's work of what sort it is. — I 
Corinthians 3:13. 

A lady dropped a ring with a valuable 
jewel in the open fire. The next day 
from the dead ashes the gem was raked 
out, unharmed. The setting had melted 
in the heat, the gem was unhurt. When 
thou, if a true jewel, passest through the 
fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither 
shall the flames kindle upon thee. But 
how much more blessed is it to have not 
only the gem itself spared, but the setting 
also; to have gold, silver, and precious 



194 Spirit and Life 

stones in the work we do for Him whose 
we are and whom we serve ! 

Thou canst not tell the mystery of the 
new birth which marks the true jewels of 
the Lord. 

Men have sought to discover Nature's 
secret in transforming so homely and dark 
a substance as charcoal into a beautiful 
and brilliant diamond, but they cannot 
even learn from what department of Na- 
ture's laboratory it comes, or what the 
chemical conditions that secure it. So is 
it with the Lord's jewels. Even the 
mystery which hath been hid from ages 
and from generations, but now is made 
manifest to His saints : to whom God 
would make known what is the riches of 
the glory of this mystery among the 
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the 
hope of glory. — Colossians I : 26, 27. 

It is His own blessed secret which He 
tells only to those who believe, in simple 
faith and love. 



His Jewels 195 

Much research has been given not only 
to find out the mystery of how the 
diamond is made, but also to imitate it. 
But in the nearest approach to it, there is 
yet lacking that indiscoverable something 
which gives it its unrivaled preciousness. 

The finest gems are often found looking 
like rough pebbles, and it requires the 
lapidary's art to bring out their beauty, 
and to fit them to their proper setting. 

The process is something like this. The 
rough stone is embedded in cement, and a 
dull-edged diamond is rubbed across the 
surface, so as to leave an indentation that 
determines the line of cleavage. The 
operation is then repeated with a dia- 
mond having a slightly sharper edge, 
and finally with one as keen as a razor. 
A marked depression is thus made, into 
which a sharp steel knife is inserted. A 
quick and light blow divides the stone 
into two parts. The next process is 
known as that of cutting, an operation 



19 6 Spirit and Life 

during which the stone is given its gen- 
eral form. A factory in St. Louis pos- 
sesses a machine never before used in 
America, and only recently adopted by a 
few of the largest establishments in 
Europe. Instead of following the old 
method of rubbing two stones together 
by hand, the stone undergoing treatment 
is inserted in the chuck of a lathe revolv- 
ing at a high rate of speed, and is placed 
in contact with another diamond that is 
likewise fastened in an adjustable chuck 
held in the hand of the operator. In the 
course of this operation the stone receives 
its form and outline. This process secures 
a much better result than could be ob- 
tained by the old method. The powder 
which results from the stones rubbing 
against each other is used later in pol- 
ishing. 

The stone is then ready for the polisher. 
He must first determine the character he 
will give the diamond, and select the 



His Jewels 197 

method of working it. He inserts the 
stone in a conical mass of molten lead, 
allowing a particular section to remain ex- 
posed. As soon as the lead has hardened, 
the polisher places the stone upon his 
wheel, which rotates at the rate of twenty- 
three hundred revolutions per minute. 
As the position of each diamond is 
changed in the setting from twenty-five 
to thirty times, an idea of the number of 
operations required before the stone is 
properly faceted may be had. Having 
arrived at a certain stage, the stone is sent 
back to the cutter that he may remove 
any sharp edges or irregularities produced 
during the process of polishing. At his 
hands, also, the stone receives its per- 
fectly rounded form, after which it is re- 
turned to the polisher, who gives it its 
finishing touches. It is interesting to 
note that a given parcel of rough goods is 
kept intact throughout the entire pro- 
cess, the product being retained as one 



198 Spirit and Life 

parcel. It may start at one thousand 
carats of rough goods, and go through all 
the operations until it appears as a parcel 
of gems weighing perhaps no more than 
three hundred and fifty carats, varying in 
size and quality, but all derived from the 
original parcel. 

The analogy is suggestive. 

Behold, I have refined thee, but not 
with silver; I have chosen thee in the 
furnace of affliction. — Isaiah 48 : 10. I 
will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: 
for Thou hast considered my trouble; 
Thou hast known my soul in adversities. 
— Psalm 31:7. For Thou, O God, hast 
proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is 
tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; 
Thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 
Thou hast caused men to ride over our 
heads ; we went through fire and through 
water: but Thou broughtest us out into 
a wealthy place. — Psalm 66: 10-12. 

In preparing the gem, it is said the 



His Jewels 199 

plan must be perfectly understood by the 
artist at the commencement of his work. 
No careless, haphazard cutting here and 
there will do. So it is with His jewels. 

For I know the thoughts that I think 
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of 
peace, and not of evil, to give you an ex- 
pected end. — Jeremiah 29: 11. And I 
will bring the third part through the fire, 
and will refine them as silver is refined, 
and will try them as gold is tried : they 
shall call on my name, and I will hear 
them : I will say, It is my people : and 
they shall say, The Lord is my God. — 
Zech. 13:9. 

Here we are, rough diamonds, em- 
bedded in this commonplace life for a 
purpose. To find the cleavage plane 
where, with infinite skill, the divine 
fashioner of our character will begin His 
work, He uses some dull-edged diamond, 
a fellow diamond, some inefficient person 
who seems to prevent our getting on in 



200 Spirit and Life 

life, some circumstance, disappointment, 
commonplace test, the thousand and one 
things which try every life, and which we 
refer to second causes, forgetting the "dull 
diamond " is in the hand of a skillful 
designer. But the cleavage plane is dis- 
covered, and a keener trial comes to mark 
it still more plainly. Then the sharp 
knife of an experience keener still, then 
the quick, decisive blow — a change in all 
the relations of life, a dividing asunder 
of every plan and purpose; a cruel blow, 
we say, but it is the only way to put the 
diamond where it can be shaped and 
polished for its final glorious setting. It 
is said the workman must know perfectly 
the position of what is called the cleavage 
planes, as it is only upon them the pieces 
can be removed with the chisel without 
injury to the jewel ; that is, he must know 
where to strike. The lapidary takes up 
the rough stone, knowing he has a treas- 
ure if it can be properly developed. To 



His Jewels 201 

let it remain in its rough condition would 
be to cut off its possibilities; it must be 
brought out, cut, polished, set, in order 
to find its highest value. 

O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and 
known me. Thou knowest my downsit- 
ting and mine uprising, Thou understand- 
est my thought afar off. Thou compassest 
my path and my lying down, and art ac- 
quainted with all my ways. For there is 
not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, 
Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast 
beset me behind and before, and laid 
Thine hand upon me. Thine eyes did see 
my substance, yet being unperfect ; and 
in Thy book all my members were writ- 
ten, which in continuance were fashioned, 
when as yet there was none of them. 
How precious also are Thy thoughts 
unto me, O God ! how great is the sum of 
them ! If I should count them, they 
are more in number than the sand : when 
I awake, I am still with Thee. Search 



202 Spirit and Life 

me, O God, and know my heart : try me, 
and know my thoughts : and see if there 
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in 
the way everlasting. — Psalm 139: 1-5 ; 16- 
18; 23, 24. But Thou, O Lord, knowest 
me: Thou hast tried my heart toward 
Thee. — Jer. 12 : 3. 

Oh, those cleavage planes in us! How 
well the Lord knows where to cut His 
loved and His own, though the cleavage 
plane may be where we least think it is ! 

Right where natural affection bleeds 
the most ; where pride, not necessarily 
sinful pride either, cries out most sorely, 
where the joints and marrow of this soul 
redeemed by Him will part — there His 
strong, steady, unflinching hand cuts and 
forms the jewel for the setting designed 
by Him for it, where the designer's skill 
and its own beauty will be best set forth. 

The lapidary's apparatus for cutting, 
grinding, and polishing is made of the 
most common materials, lead, pewter, 



His Jewels 203 

brass, iron, and soft alloys. So some of 
the Lord's most precious jewels are being 
fitted for their final setting by the com- 
monest and most prosaic circumstances of 
daily life and toil. There comes to be a 
heroism in great suffering that relieves it 
of part of its sting. But there is no hero- 
ism about the sting of a nettle bush, nor 
is there any, to our eyes, in the petty 
annoyances of our daily life. Yet it is 
here the greater part of His jewels are cut 
and shaped and polished. 

Having found the lines on which to 
work out the best results for the gem, the 
next process is that of cutting. They 
used to rub two stones together to give 
each jewel its form ; but methods change 
in cutting both the material and the 
spiritual diamond. Still, it is the other 
diamond which is the instrument, and 
the hand of the designer directs the pro- 
cess just the same. The new process has 
a diamond inserted in a lathe going by 



204 Spirit and Life 

machinery at a high rate of speed ; another 
diamond is fastened in an adjustable 
chuck, or grip, held in the hand of the 
operator. We live in the whirr and whizz 
of busy years. We are cut and ground 
by contact with men and women in the 
rush of life, but the hand of the operator 
guides, and the plan for each diamond is 
clear in His mind. 

" And so I whisper, ' As God will,' 
And in His mighty hand hold still." 

The lapidary's table has a groove 
around it to preserve the pieces of the 
jewel, its very dust, to use in polishing 
other gems. As the pieces fly off, wel[ 
might the jewel exclaim, could it speak, 
44 To what purpose is this waste ? " But 
the cutter understands, and no part is 
wasted. So with His jewels. As the 
self-will, the ambitions, the sharp edges 
of our character, are cut and shaped by 
the circumstances of our life, circum- 
stances which we misunderstand so com- 



His Jewels 205 

pletely that we say, " There must be some 
mistake," the careful cutter of His jewel 
is ever using the seeming waste to polish 
others of His gems. 

How little we know our influence over 
others! The self-restraint in the home, 
under provocation ; the patient forbear- 
ance, the denial of self, the little acts of 
love, and the little words — all the process 
of our fitting for His final setting — we 
know not how much it is doing for other 
gems that will shine beside us in His 
crown forever. Have you not watched 
some patient sufferer and felt your own 
impatience rebuked and your faith 
strengthened? Be encouraged; your own 
cutting is going to polish and beautify 
somebody else as well as yourself. 

While the lapidary cuts, he examines 
with a magnifying glass, and occasionally 
takes a proof of his work in wax. That 
the trial [or proof] of your faith, being 
much more precious than of gold that 



206 Spirit and Life 

perisheth, though it be tried with fire, 
might be found unto praise and honor 
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 
— i Peter I : 7. 

We often mistake or overestimate our 
faith, or we may underestimate it. God 
sends a fiery trial to prove it. Let us be 
patient; He tests, because He will have 
us perfect. 

Some gems cut very slowly, and the 
process is a delicate one. The sapphire 
is one of the most precious jewels, and it 
cuts perhaps most slowly of all, but pre- 
sents beautifully smooth surfaces when 
done. Precious jewel of the Saviour's 
treasure, be not disheartened if it seems 
the process is slow, and the jewel unyield- 
ing. Hold still in the lapidary's hand. 
Perhaps you will be among His brightest 
by and by. 

It is the custom in Brazil to liberate 
the slave who finds a diamond of a cer- 
tain weight when gathering them from 



His Jewels 207 

the river beds. Think of his joy when he 
receives this reward for his search. And 
they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament ; and they that turn 
many to righteousness, as the stars for 
ever and ever. — Daniel 12:3. So let him 
know, that he which converteth the sin- 
ner from the error of his way shall save a 
soul from death, and shall hide a multi- 
tude of sins. — James 5 : 20. For what is 
our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? 
Are not even ye in the presence of our 
Lord Jesus Christ at His coming ? For 
ye are our glory and joy. — 1 Thessalo- 
nians 2 : 19. 

There is no joy on earth equal to 
the joy of gathering gems for the Sav- 
iour's crown. The Princess Eugenie of 
Sweden, a woman noted for her benev- 
olence, found it necessary to add a ward 
to a hospital in which she was inter- 
ested. Not having the money at com- 
mand, she sold her jewels for this purpose. 



208 Spirit and Life 

One day, in passing through this ward, 
a pale sufferer lying upon one of the 
neat little beds stretched out her hand 
to the Princess as she passed, and with 
tears shining in her eyes she said: " Oh, 
Princess, had it not been for you, I would 
never have had this comfort and care." 
And the Princess said : " I have found my 
diamonds in the tears of this grateful 
woman." Diamonds are lovely, espe- 
cially so because they are the work of 
God ; but if my possessing even one 
would rob His treasury of that which I 
ought to give in order that His immortal 
jewels may be won, far rather let me 
choose to find my jewels as the Princess 
found hers. 

Precious stones possess a hardness 
which renders them susceptible to the 
highest polish, and capable of retaining 
the forms into which they are cut, and the 
figures that may be engraved on them. 
The ancient artists had each his peculiar 



His Jewels 209 

cipher which he put upon the gem. Con- 
noisseurs can refer each gem to its period, 
country, and artist. Him that overcometh 
will I make a pillar in the temple of my 
God, and he shall go no more out : and I 
will write upon him the name of my God, 
and the name of the city of my God, 
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh 
down out of heaven from my God : and I 
will write upon him my new name. — Rev- 
elation 3:12. To him that overcometh 
will I give a white stone, and in the stone 
a new name written, which no man know- 
eth saving he that receiveth it. — Revela- 
tion 2: 17. And the Gentiles shall see 
thy righteousness, and all kings thy 
glory : and thou shalt be called by a new 
name, which the mouth of the Lord shall 
name. Thou shalt also be a crown of 
beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a 
royal diadem in the hand of thy God. — 
Isaiah 62 : 2, 3. 

And the Lord their God shall save 



210 Spirit and Life 

them in that day as the flock of His 
people ; for they shall be as the stones of 
a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His 
land. — Zechariah 9: 16. On His head 
were many crowns. — Revelation 19: 12. 
Then shall the righteous shine forth as 
the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 
— Matthew 13 : 43. 

His jewels are upon His heart now, 
they will be in His crown then. 

" When the Lord makes up His jewels, 

Choosing gems of every hue ; 
Pearls and diamonds, rubies, sapphires, 

Showing flawless through and through, 
Could I be the least among them, 

Smallest gem that love could see, 
And His eye detect the brightness, 

That would be enough for me. 

• Precious stones are cut and polished 

By the lapidary's skill ; 
Cruel knife and rasping friction 

Work on each the Master's will. 
Not until the sparkling facets 

With an equal luster glow, 
Does the artist choose a setting 

For the gem perfected so. 



His Jewels 211 



' Thus I wait the royal pleasure, 

And, when trouble comes to me, 
Smile, to think He may be working 

On the gem, though small it be. 
AH I ask is strength to bear it, 

Faith and patience to be still : 
Held by Him, no knife can slay me ; 

Loving Him, no anguish kill." 



2i2 Spirit and Life 



THE HEART'S STORY. 

I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea 

Come drifting home, with broken masts and sails ; 
I will believe the Hand that never fails, 

From seeming evil, worketh good for me ; 

And, though I weep because those sails are tattered, 

Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered, 
" I trust in Thee." 

I will not doubt, though all my prayers return 
Unanswered from the still, white realm above ; 
I will believe it is an all -wise love 

Which has refused these things for which I yearn ; 

And, though at times I cannot keep from grieving, 

Yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing 
Undimmed shall burn. 

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain, 
And troubles swarm like bees about to hive ; 
I will believe the heights for which I strive 

Are only reached by anguish and by pain ; 

And, though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses, 

I yet shall see through my severest losses 
The greater gain. 

I will not doubt. Well anchored in this faith, 
Like some stanch ship, my soul braves every gale. 
So strong its courage will not quail 
To breast the mighty unknown sea of death. 
Oh, may I cry, though body parts with spirit, 
" I do not doubt," so listening worlds may hear it, — 
With my last breath ! 

Selected. 



October 



Things Working for Good 

And we know that all things work to- 
getJier for good to them that love God, to 
them who are the called accordi?ig to His 
purpose. — Romans 8 : 28. 

" A ND we know. " Oh, what a comfort 
/i. to be sure ! In the midst of so 
much that is dark and doubtful, how like 
■ a bright clear patch of blue in the troubled 
sky is St. Paul's cheerful " we know "! 
It will clear off sometime. Weeping may 
endure for the night, but joy cometh in 
the morning. It is always morning some- 
where, even on this earth ; it is always 
morning everywhere with God. God is 
light, and in Him is no darkness at all 
(1 John 1:5); and the way out of our 
darkness is to find God. " And there 
213 



214 Spirit and Life 

shall be no night " when fully He the 
work hath wrought that caused our need- 
less fear. 

How does St. Paul know that all things 
work together for good to them that love 
God ? Does it look so ? Did it look as 
if things were prosperous and hopeful for 
him when he wrote : 

We are troubled on every side, yet not 
distressed ; we are perplexed, but not in 
despair. — 2 Corinthians 4:8. Of the 
Jews five times received I forty stripes 
save one. Thrice was I beaten with 
rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suf- 
fered shipwreck, a night and a day I 
have been in the deep; in journeyings 
often, in perils of waters, in perils of rob- 
bers, in perils by my own countrymen, in 
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, 
in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the 
sea, in perils among false brethren ; in 
weariness and painfulness, in watchings 
often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings 



Things Working for Good 215 

often, in cold and nakedness. Beside 
those things that are without, that which 
cometh upon me daily, the care of all the 
churches. — 2 Cor. 1 1 : 24-28. 

The very same sorrows, perplexities, 
disappointments, were in his own life and 
in the lives of his friends as we experience 
now. And yet he said without hesitation 
or qualification : " We know that all 
things work together for good to them 
that love God." I am sure we very much 
need the comfort and strength of such a 
settled belief as this. Nothing helps so 
much in the battle of life as a cheerful 
courage ; discouragement takes the nerve 
out of us, and hinders success. A buoy- 
ant spirit tones the whole being and 
makes us press on to victory. And what 
a solid basis for courage in the midst of 
difficulties is the assurance that things are 
surely coming out right at last ! You 
could hopefully and cheerfully watch for 
weeks beside one suffering with illness if 



216 Spirit and Life 

you were sure that the fever, the pain, 
the uncomfortable remedies, were working 
together toward an outcome of stronger 
health and vigor than the sufferer had 
ever known before. 

I think there were three ways by which 
St. Paul, under the guidance of the Holy 
Spirit, arrived at this satisfactory and in- 
spiring conclusion. First, I think he 
came to it logically by his process of 
reasoning, which makes this book of 
Romans, especially this eighth chapter, 
so rich and full of meat. Second, he 
came to it through the emphatic declara- 
tions of this blessed Word, all of which he 
believed had been given by inspiration of 
God ; and third, he came to it through his 
own experience. Now, if you and I can 
come for ourselves to the same satisfac- 
tory conclusion — not to a theory, not a 
hearsay, but to our own calm, settled, 
happy assurance that, no matter how 
things look, they truly are working to- 



Things Working for Good 217 

gether for our good, then we will be ready 
to join in the paean of rejoicing which 
bursts from the soul of the apostle when 
he cries out in verses 31-39: 

What shall we then say to these things ? 
If God be for us, who can be against us ? 
He that spared not His own Son, but de- 
livered Him up for us all, how shall He 
not with Him also freely give us all things? 
Who shall lay anything to the charge of 
God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. 
Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ 
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, 
who is even at the right hand of God, who 
also maketh intercession for us. Who 
shall separate us from the love of Christ ? 
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecu- 
tion, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or 
sword ? As it is written, For Thy sake 
we are killed all the day long ; we are ac- 
counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, 
in all these things we are more than con- 
querors through Him that loved us. For 



218 Spirit and Life 

I am persuaded, that neither death, nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
powers, nor things present, nor things to 
come, nor height, nor depth, nor any 
other creature, shall be able to separate 
us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I saw a little child on the train just be- 
fore we entered the tunnel. Her father 
knew she would be afraid in the dark, and 
he lifted her out of her seat into his arms. 
When we came out into the sunlight, she 
was gazing in his face with an intense 
look of inquiry — a mingling of fear and 
trust ; then she broke out in a smile that 
said so much ! The tunnel had been dark, 
she did not enjoy it, but she was quiet 
through it because her father held her. 
When she came again into the sunlight, 
she saw his face ; she knew he had kept 
her safe, she answered his smile with a 
glad acknowledgment, and all the while 
the passage through the tunnel brought 



Things Working for Good 219 

her nearer the place where she wanted to 
go. Her father knew this while they 
were in the darkness ; baby did not know 
it then, but she was quiet in his arms. 
Let us enter the kingdom of God " asa 
little child." 

We often hear this passage quoted in a 
way foreign to its meaning. People say : 

Oh! I hope all things will work for 
good. I am sure they ought to for so- 
and-so, for she surely loves God;" or/' I 
think all things are working for good," 
meaning they hope or believe that things 
will come out as they want them. But it 
is not said we know that. In fact, we 
know just the opposite. We know that 
some of God's dear children meet with 
great disappointments. They lose their 
money, they suffer pain, they have sor- 
rows that cut to their very heart's core. 
Things do not come out as they would 
choose at all. 

Consequently in that way of looking 



220 Spirit and Life 

they do not work for good, but just the 
reverse. 

Nor does the text say, We know all 
things work for good to everybody. They 
would, if God could have His way with 
everybody. He is not willing that any 
should perish, but rather that all should 
turn unto Him and live. Oh ! the mean- 
ing of that word perish, the fullness of 
that word live ! But if we will not fall in 
with His plan for us, how can He do us 
the good He would ? 

Thus, you have a child who is very 
dear to you. You have great plans for 
his future, and you are ready to put 
everything you have at his disposal for 
his advantage. But he will not be in 
sympathy with your purpose ; he has 
plans of his own which he is determined 
to carry out. You know they will result 
in disaster, but you cannot persuade him 
to your way of thinking. Things do not 
work for his good as you had intended 



Things Working for Good 221 

they should. But it is his fault, not 
yours. So it is with ourselves and God. 
If we love God, we are in sympathy with 
His thought for us, so that all His re- 
sources are at our disposal; He can make 
everything turn to our advantage because 
we fall in with His way, which is the way 
of wisdom and of love. 

But, on the other hand, do you say 
sadly: " I am afraid I do not love Him 
as I ought, and the assurance is not for 
me?" Hear Him saying: He that is 
not against me is for me. The bruised 
reed He will not break. The willing and 
obedient shall eat the good of the land. 

St. Paul says very decidedly, all things 
work for good. You cannot get outside 
of God's all, so let us go the way he went, 
and see if we can come out at the same 
delightful resting-place. When we look 
into the Word to see what Christ does for 
us, and in us, what treasures of infinite 
love are unfolded to us! How plainly we 



222 Spirit and Life 

see that from pure love for us He gave 
Himself to redeem us from the curse of 
sin, and settled forever the question of 
our complete rescue from the power and 
dominion of evil. 

Who hath delivered us from the power 
of darkness, and hath translated us into 
the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom 
we have redemption through His blood, 
even the forgiveness of sins. And you, 
that were sometime alienated and ene- 
mies in your mind by wicked works, yet 
now hath He reconciled in the body 
of His flesh through death, to present 
you holy and unblamable and unreprov- 
able in His sight : if ye continue in the 
faith grounded and settled, and be not 
moved away from the hope of the gospel, 
which ye have heard, and which was 
preached to every creature which is under 
heaven ; whereof I Paul am made a min- 
ister. — Colossians 1:13, 14, 21-23. 

Herein is love, not that we loved God, 



Things Working for Good 223 

but that He loved us, and sent His Son 
to be the propitiation for our sins. — I John 
4: 10. 

Behold, what manner of love the Father 
hath bestowed upon us, that we should 
be called the sons of God : therefore, the 
world knoweth us not, because it knew 
Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons 
of God, and it doth not yet appear what 
we shall be : but we know that, when He 
shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we 
shall see Him as He is. — I John 3:1,2. 

Being filled with the fruits of righteous- 
ness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the 
glory and praise of God. — Philippians 
1 : 11. 

But we all, with open face beholding as 
in a glass the glory of the Lord, are 
changed into the same image from glory 
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 
— 2 Corinthians 3:18. 

There is therefore now no condemna- 
tion to them which are in Christ Jesus, 



224 Spirit and Life 

who walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in 
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the 
law of sin and death. — Romans 8: i, 2. 

He has changed us into His own image, 
filled us with the fruits of righteousness 
by His Spirit, made us partakers of the 
divine nature, given us the spirit of adop- 
tion, put us where there is no condemna- 
tion against us, included even our bodies 
in His redemption, and given the Holy 
Spirit to help us in prayer. 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our in- 
firmities : for we know not what we should 
pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself 
maketh intercession for us with groanings 
which cannot be uttered. And He that 
searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the 
mind of the Spirit, because He maketh 
intercession for the saints according to 
the will of God. — Romans 8 : 26, 27. 

So that even here in the flesh we can 
talk with God in a way pleasing to God. 



Things Working for Good 225 

No wonder St. Paul asks, What shall we 
say to these things ? Logically, there can 
be but one thing to say: He that spared 
not His own Son, but delivered Him up 
for us all, how shall He not with Him 
also freely give us all things ? — Romans 

8:32. 

If our Father has a purpose to conform 
us to the image of His Son, so that we 
may bear the family likeness and be in 
full accord with all the interests, pursuits, 
enjoyments, comforts, and share in all the 
possessions of the family (" of whom the 
whole family in heaven and earth is 
named "), there is but one conclusion to 
reach : everything in His providence must 
work into this plan. No matter how ad- 
verse it seems, it must contribute to the 
final outcome of His purpose for good. 
Added to this logical conclusion is the 
testimony of God's Word, in illustration 
and promise. 

The steps of a good man are ordered by 



226 Spirit and Life 

the Lord: and he delighteth in His way. 
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly 
cast down : for the Lord upholdeth him 
with His hand. — Psalm 37: 23, 24. 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield : 
the Lord will give grace and glory : no 
good thing will He withhold from them 
that walk uprightly. — Psalm 84: 11. 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, 
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the 
labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields 
shall yield no meat ; the flocks shall be cut 
off from the fold, and there shall be no 
herd in the stalls : yet will I rejoice in the 
Lord, I will joy in the God of my salva- 
tion. Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength, 
and He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, 
and will make me to walk upon mine 
high places. — Habakkuk 3: 17-19. 

For the Lamb which is in the midst of 
the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 
them unto living fountains of waters: and 
God shall wipe away all tears from their 



Things Working for Good 227 

eyes. — Revelation 7: 17. This is simply 
because there never will be anything any 
more to make us weep. All things in life — 
this life redeemed by the precious blood 
of Jesus, and transformed by the Holy 
Spirit — shall be for His praise and glory, 
and for our good for ever and ever. 

Jacob was far from perfect, but he was 
God's child, and God made the very worst 
things in his life turn to his advantage. Do 
you say, then, that sin can ever be a force 
working for good ? Not sin persisted in, 
but sin repented of and forsaken, can. St. 
Paul was the more humble and loving be- 
cause he remembered how he had perse- 
cuted the Lord Jesus. " I am not worthy 
to be called an apostle. I am less than 
the least of all saints because I persecuted 
the church of God." Peter wrote, with a 
power that goes to the heart, of the glory 
of being a partaker with Christ's suffer- 
ings, and bearing reproach for His name, 
because he had once known the shame of 



228 Spirit and Life 

denying Him. Mary loved much, because 
she had much forgiven. A wonderful 
Saviour is ours! We are more than con- 
querors through Him that loved us. My 
sins, my follies, my mistakes, I will put 
entirely into His hands. I do not see 
how it can be done, but Love has won- 
drous power. He will transmute and 
transform all, so that even these dark 
threads shall become golden in the fabric 
of my character. 

It is said in Psalm 105 : 19, that God's 
Word tried Joseph. So it tries us. Has 
God forgotten ? Is He slack concerning 
His promise ? The circumstances of 
Joseph's life seemed to contradict God's 
Word, and to render its fulfillment impos- 
sible. Cast into a pit, sold into slavery, 
thrown into prison, yet these very cir- 
cumstances were working together to 
fulfill God's plan for him. The story was 
written that we, through comfort of the 
Scriptures, might have hope. Jacob said : 



Things Working for Good 229 

All these things are against me," when 
his sons went to Egypt with Benjamin ; 
but when they returned with such won- 
derful tidings he exclaimed : " It is 
enough, it is enough!" 

" To have each day the things I wish, 
Lord, seemeth best to me ; 
But not to have some things I wish, 
Lord, seemeth best to Thee. 

" Henceforth then let Thy will be done ! 
Though mine, O God, be crossed ; 
'T is good to see my plans o'erthrown, 
Myself in Thee all lost." 

Really no one understands about it, 
and I have no one to talk with but just 
God Himself." For the moment it 
seemed to us a hard experience for the 
earnest woman who uttered these words 
with tears in her eyes; but upon second 
thought we knew that it was one of the 
blessed ' ' all things ' ' working ' ' for good. 
We knew it not as a matter of theory, nor 
even of faith, for it impressed itself in the 



230 Spirit and Life 

face and tone, and in the evidently matur- 
ing character of the speaker. 

We get our best things directly from 
God. Human friendships, the com- 
munion of saints, and the stimulus to 
spiritual life which comes from associa- 
tion are greatly to be valued ; but we 
learn best as private pupils in personal 
intercourse with the divine teacher. It 
is said of Mary that she " sat at Jesus' 
feet, and kept listening to His word." 
Doubtless she often repeated to her sister 
Martha the things she heard, but they 
could never have come to her with the 
force and stimulus with which they fell 
upon Mary's ear directly from the lips of 
Jesus. 

It is not so much in the great events 
of life that we learn this precious les- 
son of companionship with God. There 
are sorrows in some lives which are like 
lonely mountain fastnesses, where, in 
hours apart with Him, the soul has 



Things Working for Good 231 

had unutterable revelations. But the 
daily routine, " the common round," has 
its lonely places, too, where only God 
understands. If we should speak of the 
trial to another, the reply might come : 
" Why do you care ? such things do not 
trouble me." — " True, but you are differ- 
ent. I see you cannot understand " ; and 
we turn away disappointed. But if to 
the Friend unfailing we have learned to 
go, and 

" Tell Him everything 
As it rises, 
And at once to Him to bring 
All surprises," 

how soon we find He does understand, 
and His peace keeps heart and mind as in 
a strong fortress. 

Nor, to go a step further, does this feel- 
ing of being understood by God only, lead 
to a misanthropic spirit. It does not recoil 
like the sensitive plant from all human 
touch, but rather, from the divine com- 



232 Spirit and Life 

panionship it learns the charity which 

never faileth, hopeth all things, be- 
lieveth all things, suffers long, and is 
kind." Taking daily experiences in this 
way, we may truly " in everything give 
thanks. ' ' 

Some of the hills of life are very steep 
and rugged. We can only mount them 
as we hold fast to our Guide. We shall 
slip, slip down into hopelessness and 
despair unless we hold fast to the strong 
assurance of Him whose word faileth 
never. " All things work together for 
good to them that love God." 

This delightful assurance of St. Paul 
grew also out of his own experience. 

And lest I should be exalted above 
measure through the abundance of the 
revelations, there was given to me a thorn 
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to 
buffet me, lest I should be exalted above 
measure. For this thing I besought the 
Lord thrice, that it might depart from 



Things Working for Good 233 

me. And He said unto me, My grace is 
sufficient for thee : for my strength is 
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly 
therefore will I rather glory in my infirm- 
ities, that the power of Christ may rest 
upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in 
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, 
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's 
sake : for when I am weak, then am I 
strong. — 2 Corinthians 12 : 7-10. 

Never shall I forget a day when in sor- 
row because a dear little child had been 
taken from our household, and in great 
physical pain, I sat alone in a darkened 
room. My hands were so disabled that I 
could scarcely turn the leaves of my Bible, 
but it opened to these verses. With a 
sudden flash-light the Holy Spirit poured 
them upon my soul's vision. The loss, 
the pain, the loneliness, were heavy, but 
the strength made perfect in weakness, the 
power of Christ resting upon me, more 
than made up for all. I understood then, 



234 Spirit and Life 

in a little measure, Paul's testimony to 
the sweetness of most bitter things. 

And, as if imprisonment, persecution, 
and all the rest which had befallen this 
brave, true servant of God were not 
enough, shipwreck must follow ! Really 
it looked as if God did not take care of 
him at all. But Paul knew better. He 
had learned the best lesson one can learn 
— to trust God perfectly, no matter how 
things look. So when there was great 
confusion on the ship, some advised one 
thing and some another, and all were so 
frightened they could not eat, Paul was 
perfectly quiet and begged them to take 
food. " Do not throw yourselves into 
the sea," he said; " stay in the ship and 
you will all be safe, for He whose I am 
and whom I serve has told me I must go 
to Rome, and that all in the ship with me 
shall be saved. And I believe God that 
it shall be even as it was told me. ' Thou 
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose 



Things Working for Good 235 

mind is stayed on Thee, because he 
trusteth in Thee.' " — Isaiah 26: 3. 

Moon and stars did not appear; the sea 
was high ; the ship finally went to pieces. 
But Paul paid no attention to appear- 
ances, and went on believing God. So 
he was not only quiet himself, but he 
could cheer up others. It is blessed to 
believe God. It is the only way to keep 
a cheerful, courageous heart when things 
seem to be going to pieces as they often 
do, like a tempest-driven vessel. 

One day Mr. Spurgeon came in, saying 
to his deacons, " Brethren, I am fresh 
from a struggle with doubts." " And 
why," said one of the deacons, " did you 
not tell us you were fresh from a struggle 
to keep from horse-stealing ? " " What 
do you mean ? " asked Mr. Spurgeon. 
" Well, the same God that forbids your 
stealing a horse, also forbids your doubt- 
ing. How dare you do the one more 
than the other?" " You are right," 



236 Spirit and Life 

Mr. Spurgeon said, " I have no more 
right to doubt God than I have to steal a 
horse." 

How should you feel if one should 
question any promise you should make ? 
Why, then, should you question any- 
thing which God has told you ? Paul be- 
lieved " even as it was told him," not as 
he thought it ought to be, or as it looked 
as if it might be, but as God said it should 
be. So we must believe His Word. He 
tells me He loves me. I must believe the 
love, and trust Him as my Father. Like 
myriads of stars in the sky, the promises 
of God shine in His Word. Let us be- 
lieve even as it is told us, then we shall 
be happy, calm, and full of courage, and 
can say to the troubled, fearful ones 
around us, " Be of good cheer." What 
a comfort to have a man like St. Paul on 
board ship in a storm ! How glad we are 
to meet men and women of faith when we 
are in trouble, doubt, or distress! If you 



Things Working for Good 237 

would be helpful to others you must your- 
self believe God even as it is told you. 

Sir George Matheson of Scotland is 
totally blind, yet one of the most learned 
and gifted men in all Britain, and a mag- 
netic orator. Though always in total 
darkness, he is a cheerful, happy-hearted 
Christian. He has written this: " My 
God, I have never thanked Thee for my 
thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand 
times for my roses, but not once for my 
thorn. I have been looking forward to a 
world where I shall get compensation for 
my cross, but I have never thought of my 
cross as itself a present glory. Thou 
Divine Love, whose human path has been 
perfected through sufferings, teach me the 
glory of my cross ; teach me the value of 
my thorn. Show me that I have climbed 
to Thee by the path of pain. Show me 
that my tears have made my rainbow. 
Reveal to me that my strength was the 
product of the thorn when I wrestled 



238 Spirit and Life 

until the break of day. Then shall I 
know that my thorn was sent by Thee." 

' ' How shall I quiet my heart ? how shall I keep it still ? 
How shall I hush its tremulous start at tidings of 
good or ill ? 

" How shall I gather and hold contentment and peace 
and rest, 
Wrapping their sweetness fold on fold over my 
troubled breast ? 

" The Spirit of God is still and gentle and mild and 
sweet, 
What time His omnipotent glorious will guideth the 
worlds at His feet. 

" Controlling all lesser things, this turbulent heart of 
mine 
He keepeth as under His folded wings, in a peace 
serene, divine. 

" So shall I quiet my heart, so shall I keep it still, 
So shall I hush its tremulous start at tidings of good 
or ill ; 

" So shall I silence my soul with a peacefulness deep 
and broad ; 
So shall I gather divine control in the infinite quiet 
of God." 



Things Working for Good 239 

A DAY OF GOLD. 

Quiet and peace, heart's- ease and delight, 
Autumnal sky, hill, valley, — and night ! 

Heaven bends tenderly near to bless 
The earth, with kisses of chaste caress, 

Soothing her into satisfied rest. 

A trustful heart on a lover's breast. 

In tinted foliage night winds sigh 
Answers of love to the bending sky ; 

Earth has forgotten — a little while — 
To-morrow's summons to grief and toil. 

She rests, and has all her heart can take 
Of heaven, lavished for love's sweet sake. 

Till the voice of morning, low and clear — 
Voice that is silence to human ear — 

Gives speech ; and then earth expectant waits 
The sun to ride through his royal gates, 

And the story of her hope is told 
As he covers her with flaming gold ! 

Truth revealed in autumn's day of gold 
Is new-born — as eternity old. 

Rest, then, and have all the heart can take 
Of heaven, lavished for Christ's dear sake, 

To keep content through expectant night 
Lives that shall wake to immortal light. 

E. J. K. 



November 



Upon My Watch-Tower 

/ will stand upon my watch, and set me 
upon the tower, and will watch to see what 
He will say unto me, and what I shall an- 
swer zvhen I am reproved. — Hab. 2:1. 

IN the days of the prophet, the long-ago 
years of the world, nations and tribes 
and men were on the defensive against 
each other constantly. They expected to 
be beset by enemies, and all their cities 
and villages were built with a view to 
protection. High walls surrounded most 
of them, and here and there upon the 
walls or on some near outpost were built 
watch-towers, where the watchman kept 
guard, and was ready to sound the alarm 
at the first approach of a foe. In those 
far-away days, there were no methods of 
240 



Upon My Watch-Tower 241 

communication except the slow messenger 
upon horse or foot, and the business of 
the watchman upon the tower was to 
catch the first signal of communication 
and pass it on to those who waited for it. 
We do not live in fear of outward foes. 
For we wrestle not against flesh and 
blood, but against principalities, against 
powers, against the rulers of the darkness 
of this world, against spiritual wickedness 
in high places. — Eph. 6: 12. 

" Ne'er think the victory won, 
Nor lay thine armor down ; 
The work of faith will not be done 
Till thou obtain the crown." 

And far more need is there of watch- 
towers for knowledge of the foes of our 
spiritual life, for warning, for preparation 
against invasion, than there was need for 
them against the warriors of olden times. 

The Bible is the book for all ages and 
all people. The prophet Habakkuk is 
filled with anxiety about the times in 



242 Spirit and Life 

which he lives. He sees that violence, 
wrong, and injustice are everywhere, that 
men are selfish and care only for their 
own gains. And he foresees that a great 
enemy in the days to come will invade 
the land. He cries out in the most intense 
language to God : Lord, how long shall I 
cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out 
unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not 
save ! — Hab. I : 2. 

The picture is very like what we see 
in these later days. Puzzling political 
and social questions ; the distorted state 
of our own hearts ; the mysterious 
ways of Providence; the questioning, 
How long ? the pitiful or impatient 
Why ? are agitating the world now as 
then. We say, one to another, I am your 
brother and companion in tribulation, 
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus 
Christ. — Revelation i : 9. In his per- 
plexity and inability to answer these 
questions, the prophet says he will do 



Upon My Watch-Tower 243 

just what we will have to do if we find 
rest for soul or wisdom for action. He 
will humbly wait upon God. 

I will stand upon my watch, and set me 
upon the tower, and will watch to see 
what He will say unto me, and what I 
shall answer when I am reproved. And 
the Lord answered me, and said, Write 
the vision, and make it plain upon tables, 
that he may run that readeth it. For the 
vision is yet for an appointed time, but at 
the end it shall speak, and not lie; though 
it tarry, wait for it ; because it will surely 
come, it will not tarry. — Hab. 2: 1-3. 

I will stand upon my watch as a senti- 
nel on the walls of a besieged city. As 
one anxious to gain intelligence I will 
look up, look out, look in. I will watch 
to see what He will say to, or in me, as 
the margin reads. 

Take ye heed, watch and pray : for ye 
know not when the time is. For the Son 
of man is as a man taking a far journey, 



244 Spirit and Life 

who left his house, and gave authority to 
his servants, and to every man his work, 
and commanded the porter to watch. 
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not 
when the master of the house cometh, at 
even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crow- 
ing, or in the morning : lest coming 
suddenly he find you sleeping. And 
what I say unto you I say unto all, 
Watch. — Mark 13:33-37. Be sober, be 
vigilant ; because your adversary the 
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, 
seeking whom he may devour : whom 
resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that 
the same afflictions are accomplished in 
your brethren that are in the world. — 1 
Peter 5 : 8, 9. 

It requires an ear intent to hear, a 
trained ear, else among the confusing 
voices we shall not recognize the One 
supreme voice, nor understand what is its 
word for us. Unto Thee lift I up mine 
eyes,0 Thou that dwellest in the heavens. 



Upon My Watch-Tower 245 

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto 
the hand of their masters, and as the eyes 
of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; 
so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, 
until that He have mercy upon us. — 
Psalm 123 : 1, 2. 

At the siege of Lucknow, when the 
English garrison was cut off from supplies, 
and in danger of massacre at the hands of 
the Sepoys, every eye and ear were strained 
to catch the first sign of Havelock's army 
coming to their relief. A Scotch girl, 
putting her ear close to the ground, 
caught the far-away strains of music, and 
springing up shouted, " Dinna ye hear 
the slogan ? " sending a thrill of hope 
through every heart. So, with ear intent, 
the child of God may hear the Father's 
voice, for counsel and for comfort; and 
may hear, as others cannot hear, the 
tread of the coming Conqueror and De- 
liverer. I will stand upon my watch, and 
will watch to hear. 



246 Spirit and Life 

As in water face answereth to face, so 
the heart of man to man. — Proverbs 
27 : 19. So by my own heart I know the 
need of yours. No need hath it so great 
as this — to hear and know and follow the 
voice of God. Does He really speak ? 
Would He leave us in this wilderness 
alone ? He will be very gracious unto 
thee at the voice of thy cry; when He 
shall hear it, He will answer thee. And 
though the Lord give you the bread of 
adversity, and the water of affliction, yet 
shall not thy teachers be removed into a 
corner any more, but thine eyes shall see 
thy teachers : and thine ears shall hear a 
word behind thee, saying, This is the 
way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the 
right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 
— Isaiah 30: 19-21. 

To Him the porter openeth ; and the 
sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His 
own sheep by name, and leadeth them 
out. And when He putteth forth His 



Upon My Watch-Tower 247 

own sheep, He goeth before them, and 
the sheep follow Him : for they know 
His voice. — John 10: 3, 4. 

We are in this world as one lost in a 
thicket. Those seeking us call and call 
again, but the rustle of our own foot- 
steps prevents our hearing the voice of 
the rescuers. But we stop for a moment 
and stand silent ; the distant voice reaches 
our ear; we listen; it comes again, nearer 
and nearer; we are sure now it is the 
voice of a friend. We answer; the quick 
response comes ; we wait ; they call ; we 
answer; and soon the seeker and the 
sought come together in happy recogni- 
tion. 

So we wander, lost, bewildered, tired, 
hopeless. The sound of our own heart- 
beat, the clamor of the outside world, 
shut out the heavenly call, " Come unto 
me for rest." Sometimes the very im- 
portunity of our cry prevents our hearing 
the voice of the Lord. We must be 



248 Spirit and Life 

silent to the Lord and wait patiently for 
Him. — Psalm 37: 7. 

This word expresses an intent state of 
the soul. " I will set me upon my 
watch." I voluntarily place myself in a 
position to hear. I will stand with a 
fixed purpose, an alert attention, to wait 
for the message; not sitting listlessly, 
but looking out with eager expectation, 
and I must adjust my position so that 
obstructions will not hinder my hearing. 
What others say, my own ease, my own 
opinion, are very much in the way of my 
getting the exact meaning of what God 
would say to me. Rise up, ye women 
that are at ease ; hear my voice, ye care- 
less daughters. Give ear unto my speech. 
— Isaiah 32 : 8, 9. 

Who among you will give ear to this ? 
Who will hearken and hear for the time 
to come ? — Isaiah 42 : 23. Hearken, O 
daughter, and consider, and incline thine 
ear. — Psalm 45 : 10. 



Upon My Watch-Tower 249 

If thou forbear to deliver them that are 
drawn unto death, and those that are 
ready to be slain ; if thou sayest, Behold, 
we knew it not; doth not He that pon- 
dereth the heart consider it ? and He that 
keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it ? 
and shall not He render to every man ac- 
cording to his works? — Proverbs 24: u, 12. 

I cannot excuse my indifference to the 
world's sin and sorrow by saying, " Be- 
hold, I knew it not." I must get upon 
my watch-tower by reading, hearing, and 
looking out for opportunities for service. 
The idea of a Christian not being intelli- 
gent upon the great questions of the day : 
the Sabbath ; the legalizing of sin in any 
form ; the crisis in missions ; social re- 
forms ; and other things which make the 
world's heart beat fast these days! 

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest 
my soul depart from thee; lest I make 
thee desolate, a land not inhabited. To 
whom shall I speak, and give warning, 



250 Spirit and Life 

that they may hear ? Behold, their ear 
is uncircumcised, and they cannot heark- 
en : behold, the Word of the Lord is unto 
them a reproach : they have no delight in 
it. I have set thee for a tower and a 
fortress among my people, that thou may- 
est know and try their way. — Jeremiah 
6: 8, 10, 27. 

Especially should we, women, get upon 
our watch-tower, and listen very intently 
and reverently. " I have set thee for a 
tower and a fortress among my people." 
Never before did women hold such power 
and consequent responsibility for the 
world's moral and social condition; and 
the political which depends upon these. It 
is grand ; but it is awfully solemn. There 
is a passage of the Word, lying far back 
among the shadows of Eden, which shows 
what is God's thought of woman as a co- 
worker with Him in redemption. He said 
to the tempter, " I will put enmity be- 
tween thee and the woman." 



Upon My Watch-Tower 251 

Satan's sharpest arrows have ever 
pierced her. God intends that she shall 
ever be preeminently his firm, determined, 
victorious enemy. This Scripture is ful- 
filled to-day in the organized efforts of 
women against vice of every kind ; in 
her voice uplifted in all lands in behalf of 
the downtrodden and the sorrowful, and 
in favor of civil, social, and moral reform. 
" The conviction is growing, that it is 
high time for women who have been 
touched by the Spirit of Christ to awake 
to the perils and the possibilities of this 
magnificent age, and throw every energy 
of brain and heart into the business of 
filling the homes of this world with a new 
spirit and life. ' ' A man of wide observa- 
tion has written these earnest words : 
" Would to God that some angel from 
His own right hand would reveal to 
woman the power she controls for the re- 
demption of those horrible vices which 
defile and intoxicate the land! She 



252 Spirit and Life 

should awe vice everywhere by the stern- 
ness of her disapproval. A divine trust is 
committed to her in her example and her 
very smiles, for which God will call her 
into judgment. I know that her sober 
rebuke may carry the power of many ser- 
mons to the heart and rescue a soul half 
lost, making her a minister of the cross." 

We must get upon the watch-tower of 
the Word. We never can sufficiently 
emphasize the necessity of a simple- 
hearted study of the Bible in these per- 
plexing days. When thou goest, it shall 
lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall 
keep thee; and when thou wakest, it 
shall talk with thee. For the command- 
ment is a lamp ; and the law is light ; and 
reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 
— Proverbs 6: 22, 23. 

When thou awakest to thy duty, privi- 
lege, opportunity, it will talk with thee. 
Jesus said : " The words that I speak unto 
you, they are spirit, and they are life." 



Upon My Watch-Tower 253 

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them 
upon the tables of thine heart. — Proverbs 

No wonder we get mixed in our ideas 
of right and wrong, when we teach for 
doctrine the commandments of men. 

What folly is it to allow the questioning 
spirit that is abroad to shake our faith in 
the living Word of God! Because the 
higher criticism demolishes some of the 
old human theories about this blessed 
book, shall that disturb our deep comfort 
in the spirit which giveth life ? The diffi- 
culty is, the masses of the people see only 
the troubled surface of those waters into 
whose depths devout thinkers are plun- 
ging. The little billows on the stream 
rock their lifeboats and they think a great 
wreck of everything is to follow. But the 
disturbance is only on the surface, and 
only for a time. The God of the Bible 
walks upon the waters, and He holds them 
in the hollow of His hand. No criticism 



254 Spirit and Life 

yet has touched the living heart of this 
Word ; not one principle, not one promise, 
not one law of conduct has ever changed 
in the least under the sharpest scrutiny of 
advanced scholarship. If the criticisms 
trouble us, it is probably because we can- 
not go into them deeply enough to under- 
stand them, and if we cannot, we had 
better turn away from them altogether, 
and hold fast the beginning of our confi- 
dence, steadfast unto the end. For if we 
let go of the old staff that has upheld us 
over many a rough way, in reaching after 
something we suppose will take its place, 
we will surely find that it is true of us as 
of God's people of old. " My people 
have committed two evils : they have for- 
saken me, the fountain of living waters; 
and they have hewed them out cisterns, 
broken cisterns that can hold no water." 
To whom shall we go ? Thou hast the 
words of eternal life. 

A traveler once, ascending a mountain, 



Upon My Watch-Tower 255 

said to his guide: " That point yonder 
looks like a glorious place for a broad 
outlook. Can I get up there ? " The 
guide shook his head. " That, sir, is 
only for old travelers and steady nerves. 
If you were sure of holding tight to my 
stick, never letting go your grasp, and 
if you kept your head, it might pay you to 
go up there for what you might see. But 
if you should let go one instant, I should 
not like to answer for the consequences. 
I 've seen some sad results from making 
that attempt, sir." Let us hold fast to 
the dear old book, sure of seeing in it 
our Father'3 face and hearing His voice. 

We must get upon our watch-tower of 
prayer. 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God : from 
Him cometh my salvation. He only is 
my rock and my salvation ; He is my de- 
fense; I shall not be greatly moved. My 
soul, wait thou only upon God, for all my 
expectation is from Him. — Psalm 62 : 1-3. 



256 Spirit and Life 

They that wait, and expect from God, 
shall never be disappointed. The prayer- 
ful soul can say, " Mine ear hast Thou 
opened." Nothing is so sweet to hear 
as God's voice; to keep listening as did 
Mary, and not to be so cumbered with 
much serving that we cannot stop to 
listen. Sounds are confusing in this 
noisy, busy age. Let us watch to hear 
what God will say in us. We have no 
fear of the rushing billows when we hear 
Him saying, "It is I, be not afraid." 
We have courage to work when we hear 
Him saying, " Have not I sent thee ? I 
am with thee all the days. ' ' We can bear 
the trial when we hear Him saying that 
He will, with it, make a way of escape. 
The watch-tower of trial is one of the 
best of outlooks. " Couldst thou not 
watch with me one hour ? " 

Write the vision, make it plain, that he 
may run that readeth it. Oh, how neces- 
sary for us, the children of our Father, 



Upon My Watch-Tower 257 

who have a sight of His face, to get us 
into our watch-tower and hear what He 
says, so that we may have something to 
tell plainly to others. Many are running 
to and fro ; the rush of life is absorbing 
every energy ; they do not take time to 
watch for themselves; we must hear for 
them. We must hear what He says 
about the clear and everlasting distinction 
between right and wrong, so that the 
force of our convictions may be strength 
for the indecision and weakness of those 
who are in danger of being swept down 
by the swift tide. Hear what He says 
about Christian work and giving, so that 
he who runs may read, in our example 
and our deep-settled purpose, the vision 
that we may not put into words. Hear 
what He says about being kept in perfect 
peace in Him. Not being careful and 
anxious, but trusting Him and believing 
all the unutterable assurances of His love 
and care, so that he who runs by us in 



258 Spirit and Life 

the daily life may read it in the quiet 
brow, the calm and steady eyes, the spirit 
not of the world. 

From questioning hearts everywhere 
comes to us the cry, Watchman, what of 
the night ? O sad soul sitting in the 
shadow, the morning cometh, the calm, 
sweet dawn, the light of His face, the 
warmth, the growth, the promise of the 
day. Set thee upon thy tower, and hear 
His word of comfort, strength, and hope. 
What of the night ? The night of the 
world's ignorance, sin, and unbelief ? A 
dark night indeed, but the morning 
cometh. All the East is purple with the 
glory of the eternal Sun. Set thee upon 
thy watch-tower, O Christian. Observe 
the signs of the times — read, hear, and 
take thy place in the conquering ranks of 
the King. Let him that heareth run to 
tell, and though the vision tarry, wait, 
for it shall speak. " The just shall live 
by his faith." 



Upon My Watch-Tower 259 

There is a tower now in ruins in Pe- 
kin, called The Looking-toward-Home 
Tower. It was built nearly one hundred 
years ago by the Emperor for a favorite 
girl of his household. She pined for her 
home and her mother, and he had this 
tower built where she could look out to- 
ward her home, while from lower rooms 
there would ascend sounds of music that 
had been familiar to her there. Lonely, 
and sometimes homesick heart, set thee 
in thy watch-tower looking toward home. 
Read in the book, of the sinless, tearless, 
glorious city. Look until the vision is 
clear, the veil but dimly intervening. 
Listen until sweet home sounds rise above 
the discords of the near surroundings, 
Look, for the vision is yet for an ap- 
pointed time, but at the end it shall speak, 
and not lie ; though it tarry, wait for it ; 
because it will surely come, it will not 
tarry. " I go to prepare a place for you, 
that where I am there you may be also." 



260 Spirit and Life 



THE VALLEY OF SILENCE. 

I walk down the Valley of Silence, 
Down the dim, voiceless valley alone, 

And I hear not the fall of a footstep 
Around me, save God's and my own ; 

And the hush of my heart is the stillness 
That lingers where angels have flown. 

Long ago was I weary of voices 

Whose music my heart could not win ; 

Long ago was I weary of noises 

That fretted my soul with their din ; 

Long ago was I weary of places 

Where I met but the human and sin. 

I toiled on, heart-tired of the human, 
I moaned 'mid the mazes of men, 

Till I knelt, long ago, at an altar, 

And heard a Voice call me ; since then 

I walked down the Valley of Silence 
That lies far beyond mortal ken. 

Do you ask what I found in the Valley ? 

'T is my trysting-place with the Divine. 
When I fell at the feet of the holy, 

And about me the Voice said, ' Be mine,' 



Upon My Watch-Tower 261 

There arose from the depths of my spirit 
An echo, ' My heart shall be Thine ! ' 

Do you ask how I live in the Valley ? 

I weep, and I dream, and I pray ; 
But my tears are as sweet as the dewdrops 

That fall on the roses of May ; 
And my prayer, like a perfume from censer, 

Ascendeth to God night and day. 

Far out on the deep there are billows 
That never shall break on the beach ; 

And I have heard songs in the silence 
That never shall float into speech ; 

And I have had dreams in the Valley 
Too lofty for language to reach. 

And I have seen thoughts in the Valley — 
Ah me ! how my spirit was stirred ; 

And they wear holy veils on their faces, 
Their footsteps can never be heard ; 

They pass through the Valley like virgins, 
Too pure for the touch of a word. 

Do you ask me the place of the Valley, 
Ye hearts that are harrowed by care ? 

It lieth afar between mountains, 
And God and His angels are there ; 

And one is the dark mount of sorrow, 
The other the bright mount of prayer. 

Selected. 



December 



All the Way 



And thou shalt remember all the way 
which the Lord thy God hath led thee these 
forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, 
and to prove thee, to know what was in 
thine heart, whether thoii wouldest keep His 
commandments, or no. — Deuteronomy 8: 2. 

IF some great event has come into our 
life during the past year which has 
changed the whole current of our being, 
we find it easy perhaps to recognize this 
as " providential." We speak of it as a 
direct "leading" ; especially are we 
ready to say so if the happening has been 
something pleasant. But great events are 
with all of us exceptional. Most lives 
run with the monotony of the weaver's 
thread — in and out, in and out, and we 
262 



All the Way 263 

must remember that there is meaning in 
the monotony. By this steady movement 
strong and beautiful fabrics are woven, 
and by the " daily round, the common 
task," your character and mine — charac- 
ter in which we shall be clothed forever 
— has been made ; and this is a fabric of 
value far exceeding that of the richest 
garments ever woven in finest looms for 
earthly kings and queens. 

Do you think then, as you stand on the 
outer edge of a new year and look back 
over the way you have come, that this 
commonplace, every-day life of yours, 
without a single event that you would 
think worthy of record, has been a matter 
of course, without the direct and personal 
supervision of God ? 

When you look at a landscape, you 
notice the points that stand out dis- 
tinctly : that hill yonder, that tree, those 
rich fields lying under the soft sky. But 
what is it that gives character and beauty 



264 Spirit and Life 

to it all ? The little things which you 
fail to see in detail until your atten- 
tion is called to them : the blades of 
grass, the clusters of shrubs, the leaves. 
How bare it would all be, and meaning- 
less, if these little things were not there 
to make each its own part of the harmoni- 
ous whole! So in looking back over the 
year just closing, if we could read our 
lives aright, we would see the little things 
have been full of interest and serious 
significance. 

" Thou shalt remember all the way 
which the Lord thy God hath led thee." 
Ah ! if He has really led, then there 
is not so much place for regret as 
for thanksgiving — is there ? And from 
the past, we may gather hope for the 
coming days, because this God is our 
God forever; He will be our guide even 
unto death. — Psalm 48: 14. 

" Let memory walk with God through 
our past." To walk alone with memory 



All the Way 265 

might be so sad we could not bear it ; it 
would be better to forget. The sin, the 
sorrow, the disappointment, would take 
away courage for the future. For the in- 
exorable seal upon each year as it closes 
is, " What I have written I have writ- 
ten " ; nothing can change the record. 
But if memory walks with God through 
our past, every spot is hallowed, every 
experience a memorial of His guiding, 
shielding, forgiving, comforting love and 
care. 

And now, dear friend, do you ques- 
tion whether God really has led you, 
and are you grieving over " mistakes," 
misfits," and things that " ought to 
have been different " ? And do you 
think that your life in its minutiae is too 
small for His notice ? Did you ever see 
a mother or father — real ones, in heart as 
well as in name — who had so many chil- 
dren that they did not care for the com- 
fort of even the least little one in the 



266 Spirit and Life 

group ? Let me read what our Heavenly 
Father says of His interest in and care 
for us. In the first place He says we 
belong to Him. 

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it 
is He that hath made us, and not we our- 
selves ; [or, His we are] we are His people 
and the sheep of His pasture. — Psalm 
100:3. 

There seems to be a sort of throwing 
the responsibility of us upon Him in 
these words. Very reverently we say it. 
We did not bring ourselves into this 
world, nor did we come here by chance. 
He who put us here by every considera- 
tion is bound to be interested in all that 
concerns us. Again and again He assures 
us that it is so. 

The Lord looketh from heaven; He 
beholdeth all the sons of men. From the 
place of His habitation He looketh upon 
all the inhabitants of the earth. He 
fashioneth their hearts alike; He con- 



All the Way 267 

sidereth all their works. — Psalm 33 : 13, 15. 

The variety in human faces is a won- 
derful thing. In all the millions upon 
earth, past or present, no two are exactly 
alike. Only the infinite mind could con- 
ceive such variety. It is so because each 
one is a personality, and is never lost in 
the multitude in God's sight. But there 
is one thing in which He made us the 
same: that is our hearts. " He fashion- 
eth their hearts alike," so that when I 
bring to you the comfort of His Word 
which is so sweet to me, I know it will be 
sweet to you, and I know by my own 
heart's need just what this poor, tired, 
hungry world needs. Never forget that 
hearts among the Hottentots even, are 
made like yours, and when you share with 
them your Christian light and knowledge, 
you will see the likeness plainly. 

Are not five sparrows sold for two far- 
things, and not one of them is forgotten 
before God ? But even the very hairs of 



268 Spirit and Life 

your head are all numbered. Fear not, 
therefore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows. — Luke 12:6, 7. m 

More value! Oh, if we could see of 
what immense value every immortal soul 
is to God, we would never doubt that He 
thinks the least of us, and that the least 
thing that concerns us, is of vast impor- 
tance to Him! What we need most, you 
and I, and all this great mass of humanity 
in this busy, turbulent world, is to get a 
persuasion of God as He sees us. How 
it would lift up from stupidity, despair, 
hopelessness, many a one who sits list- 
lessly in the parks, or wanders aimlessly 
through the streets, or pursues wearily 
the daily toil, if once this lesson of the 
sparrows could find its way into their 
consciousness! 

Is n't it very cold for you, my little 
fellow ? " said a gentleman, kindly, as 
he slipped a coin into the hand of the 
little newsboy. " It was cold, sir, until 



All the Way 269 

you came and spoke to me," he replied. 
One thought of loving-kindness brought 
warmth into the forlorn little soul, and 
even made the shivering body feel warmer. 
What would the thought of God's loving- 
kindness do for humanity ? What shall 
it do for us these closing days of the year ? 

A ragged child was playing in the street 
on a cold winter day, when the sun sud- 
denly burst from behind the clouds. 
Throwing her arms around her own half- 
frozen little self, looking up in the sky 
with a beaming face, she said, " O you 
dear, dear sun, shine on me lots! " So 
may the dear, dear face of God shine on 
us every day. 

But the larger part of humanity is where 
it cannot get this view of God. Men " sit 
in darkness and in the shadow of death, 
being bound in affliction and iron." Not 
only in the lands of heathen ignorance is 
it so, but right here where the true light 
shineth. It is pitiful to see one sitting 



270 Spirit and Life 

in the full daylight, yet thinking it is 
night, because sight is gone. Jesus said, 

I am come a light into the world," but 
because light is of no use to blind people, 
He also said He came " to open the eyes 
of the blind." This is humanity's need, 
to feel the touch of Jesus opening their 
spiritual eyes to see God. And the need 
is being met, slowly indeed it seems, yet 
surely. God never was so universally 
recognized in human consciousness as 
now. We who think we know Him well 
may learn lessons for our profit from 
many who have found Him under less 
favorable circumstances. The recogni- 
tion of God in the circumstances of their 
life, which one meets in visiting poor and 
obscure people, is very touching and 
beautiful. 

Christians are coming to a clearer view 
of God. They apprehend in a broader and 
truer sense than formerly that His taber- 
nacle is among men, and He dwells among 



All the Way 271 

them. To see God clearly ourselves, and 
then to make others see Him, is the 
highest aim that can be set before us. 

Blessed are the pure in heart; for they 
shall see God." That pure, sincere, 
simple, childlike spirit which sees Him in 
everything is a possession most precious 
in itself ; and when added to a pure heart 
gives us the power to help others secure 
the same treasure. How greatly is this 
to be desired! Humanity's cry for the 
Father is to be met by those who see and 
know Him ; by those who out of forgiven 
and cleansed hearts say under all the ex- 
periences of life, " O give thanks unto 
the Lord, for He is good : for His mercy 
endureth forever," and who can, with the 
ring of happy personal knowledge in their 
tones, say to every downcast fellow- 
mortal: " Hope thou in God, for I shall 
yet praise Him who is the health of my 
countenance and my God." 

But you say God has led and has cared 



272 Spirit and Life 

for those who were willing to be led — the 
people who asked Him. I chose to go 
alone, and I believe He did leave me to 
myself. 

Well, what sort of people were these 
to whom He said: " Thou shalt remem- 
ber all the way the Lord thy God hath 
led thee " ? 

They soon forgot His works ; they 
waited not for His counsel; but lusted 
exceedingly, and tempted God in the 
desert. — Psalm 106: 13. 

They were so disobedient that He said 
of them, as doubtless He says of us often : 
O that they were wise ! O that my peo- 
ple had hearkened unto me ! then had 
their peace been as a river, and their 
righteousness as the waves of the sea. — 
Isaiah 48: 18. 

Notwithstanding their rebellion, He 
led them about ; He instructed them ; 
He kept them as the apple of His eye. — 
Deuteronomy 32 : 10. So we must not 



All the Way 273 

rob ourselves of the comfort of knowing 
He has guided though we were not al- 
ways willing to be led. He has directed 
all. 

For He maketh sore, and bindeth up ; 
He woundeth, and His hands^ make 
whole. — Job 5 : 18. 

Thou which hast shewed me great and 
sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and 
bring me up again from the depths of the 
earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, 
and comfort me on every side. — Psalm 
71 : 20, 21. 

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but 
in the day of adversity consider: God 
also hath set the one over against the 
other. — Ecclesiastes 7: 14. 

He can, and does, overrule for good 
even our mistakes, and the mistakes of 
others. Now therefore be not grieved, nor 
angry with yourselves, that ye sold me 
hither: for God did send me before you 
to preserve life. For these two years 



274 Spirit and Life 

hath famine been in the land : and yet 
there are five years, in the which there 
shall neither be earing nor harvest. And 
God sent me before you to preserve you 
a posterity in the earth, and to save your 
lives by a great deliverance. — Genesis 45 : 
5-7. At my first answer no man stood with 
me, but all men forsook me : I pray God 
that it may not be laid to their charge. 
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with 
me, and strengthened me ; that by me 
the preaching might be fully known, and 
that all the Gentiles might hear. And 
the Lord shall deliver me from every evil 
work, and will preserve me unto His 
heavenly kingdom : to whom be glory 
for ever and ever. — 2 Timothy 4: 16-18. 
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the 
godly out of temptation, and to reserve 
the unjust unto the day of judgment to 
be punished. — 2 Peter 2:9. The Lord 
shall preserve thee from all evil : He shall 
preserve thy soul. — Psalm 121:7. 



All the Way 275 

He has often turned the hearts of 
others favorably toward us. 

The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed 
him mercy,, and gave him favor in the sight 
of the keeper of the prison. — Genesis 
39:21. And the patriarchs, moved with 
envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God 
was with him, and delivered him out of 
all his afflictions, and gave him favor and 
wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king 
of Egypt; and he made him governor 
over Egypt and all his house. — Acts 7:9, 
10. 

When a man's ways please the Lord He 
maketh even his enemies to be at peace 
with him.- Proverbs 16: 7. 

All the way ? In the sorrows, the dis- 
appointments ? In that grievous thing 
which seems so utterly against His will ? 
Well, surely, if ever we needed His guid- 
ance and care, it was when we were in 
places that were dark and where we knew 
not which way to turn. 



2j6 Spirit and Life 

And I will bring the blind by a way 
that they know not ; I will lead them in 
paths that they have not known : I will 
make darkness light before them, and 
crooked things straight. These things 
will I do unto them, and not forsake 
them. — Isaiah 42 : 16. 

Through discipline, for a purpose. 
He humbled thee. — Deuteronomy 8:3. 
So then that cut I received from one I 
thought my friend was not an accident? 
It was to prove me. Could I pray for 
that woman ? That failure I made when 
I attempted some work for Him — was it 
part of His plan, and did He " suffer" 
it for a purpose ? 

If I knew something of your every-day 
life through the year, how I might show 
you in the light of the Word how the 
little vexations and humblings have been 
known and cared about and used for your 
good by God. I " suffered thee to hun- 
ger." Perhaps there has not been physi- 



All the Way 277 

cal hunger for any one of us; but heart 
hunger — ah, yes, plenty of that ! There 
are so many things we would have been 
glad to have. So much that is desirable, 
really, that has been denied us. But it 
was not by chance. How it helps to 
know this! He suffered thee to hunger. 
He, who had everything at His com- 
mand, and could have given everything 
we wanted ; yet He suffered us to hunger. 
How could He ? Because He had some- 
thing so much better to give us than the 
thing we so much wished for. " That 
He might make thee know that man 
doth not live by bread only, but by every 
word that proceedeth out of the mouth 
of the Lord doth man live." 

O wonderful lesson ! A man's life con- 
sisteth not in the abundance of the things 
which he possesseth. I saw a child sur- 
rounded by toys at Christmas, his hands 
full, his lap full, he could not hold half, 
and he was crying because some little 



278 Spirit and Life 

thing had been denied him. I have seen 
older people with the same spirit. 

11 That He might make thee know." 
It is difficult to make us know. It is 
a fact that we cannot live spiritually on 
the sort of food we naturally, or un- 
naturally, crave. And we must learn 
that fact somehow, or we will surely 
starve to death. We must find out that 
the things we are accustomed to feed 
upon do not, and cannot, give nour- 
ishment; we must be fed upon some- 
thing higher and better. To find this 
out is the greatest discovery one can 
make. A little baby was failing in 
strength; it seemed as if it must die. 
" Your child is not nourished by the food 
it eats," said a wise doctor. A change of 
food was made and the baby grew and 
thrived. It was a great thing that the 
mother found that out. It may be God 
sees that a change of spiritual food is 
necessary for you if your soul shall live. 



All the Way 279 

You have thought life consisted in the 
abundance of the " things " you pos- 
sessed ; you have had everything earth 
could give you, but you were starving; and 
while you possessed these things you 
would eat nothing better, so God took 
them away to show you how really fam- 
ishing you were. 

The thing which most nearly satisfies 
the heart outside of God, is human love. 
You thought you could " live " on that. 
But you could not, and God caused you 
to hunger — O what hunger! — by taking 
away the one you best loved. Our 
Heavenly Father knoweth that we have 
need of food and raiment and earthly 
companionships; they are His good gifts 
and are greatly to be valued. 

But He knows that we cannot live 
spiritually by any of these things, and 
through the loss of them He makes us 
to know it too. Yes, we live by every 
word of the Lord, — triumphantly, hope- 



280 Spirit and Life 

fully, eternally live ! Earthly possessions 
may all be gone ; the circle of friends on 
earth may have grown very small; the 
hands are empty, but the springs of life 
within the soul are richer, fuller, sweeter 
than words can tell. No one can say 
what life is. Plants grow because they 
have life; we can only state the fact, 
never explain it. The child leaps and 
laughs and plays because it is " full of 
life." The soul soars Godward, victori- 
ous, rejoicing, because it lives! It is fed 
by hidden manna, and living fountains of 
waters. It is worth while to be made to 
hunger that we may find out what life 
truly is. 

I could take you to many a home 
where this truth, that man does not live 
by bread alone, is exemplified. There 
is wealth, comfort, luxury, — and heart- 
ache that is killing the body. Souls are 
loveless, hopeless, dying, when life is ap- 
parently so full ! I could take you to 



All the Way 281 

other homes, where the hands are weary 
with toil, and the head aches with plan- 
ning for the family needs, and yet where 
the heart is rich in faith, hope, sweet 
Christian patience, and courage. For the 
lesson is twofold. It would be pitiful 
indeed to make us know only that we 
cannot live by bread ; we might give up 
then, and say there is nothing left for us 
but death. But there is the positive side. 
By " every word of the Lord doth man 
live." I am come that they might have 
life, and that they might have it more 
abundantly. — John 10: 10. 

I saw a beautiful child held high in the 
hand of her tall, strong father. It seemed 
so perilous I trembled lest the little one 
should fall. " Who 's got you ? " asked 
her father. Without a shade of fear, 
with a merry laugh of delight, the baby 
said, " Papa! " So safe, so sure, so 
happy, even in a place of apparent dan- 
ger, because her father held her there! 



282 Spirit and Life 

O for the simple faith of a child! In 
theory we do believe God holds us in His 
hand, and that all our ways are directed 
by Him ; but how often in our real life 
do we doubt it, especially in hours of 
greatest need ! 

My times are in Thy hand " — what 
a pillow for your weary head, my friend, 
is this! Your head, tired with regrets, 
disappointments, failures, mistakes of the 
days gone by; weary with plans and, 
perhaps, forebodings for the future, what 
a resting-place for you is here! Think 
of that past which you so wish might 
have been different ; what will you do 
with it ? You cannot alter anything 
now; what is written is written. But 
if you carry it with you into the new 
year it will weigh you down so heavily 
that you will make sorry progress. The 
only disposal of it is to leave it in the 
hand that controls all the forces of 
the universe, material and spiritual. The 



All the Way 283 

hand which fashioned many beautiful 
worlds out of nothing can make some- 
thing beautiful for you out of mistakes 
and failures if He chooses; and He will 
choose to do it if it is best for you. It is 
safe to leave it all with Him and go un- 
burdened into the opportunities of the 
future. " The heavens and the earth 
shall shake, but the Lord will be the hope 
[or the place of repair, or harbor] of His 
people, and the strength of the children 
of Israel." Broken and disabled, we can 
put in here for repairs, and then sail out 
upon the unknown sea courageously. 

The future, with its questionings, what 
can we do about it ? Jesus said if we 
should think and think forever we could 
not add one cubit to our stature; and if 
we cannot do the thing which is least, 
why should we be carefully anxious 
about greater things concerning our well- 
being, as if we had the whole matter in 
our own hands ? 



284 Spirit and Life 

" God holds the key of the unknown, 
and I am glad." My times, my circum- 
stances, my opportunities, my training, 
my discipline, the answer to my prayers, 
all that concerns me, are in His hand. 

When David said, long ago, " My 
times are in Thy hand," he was full of 
trouble. His was a human heart, just 
like our own. He was a sinful man, a 
repentant man, a forgiven man, a trust- 
ing man. His faith was not perfect, for 
he said in his haste, " I am cut off from 
before Thine eyes." He thought some- 
times that God had forgotten him. But 
even when his faith was small God heard 
the voice of his supplications when he 
cried unto Him. He is the Lord; He 
changeth not. He will hear us also. 
Even though we have not honored Him 
with that unvarying faith which is His 
due, we may confidently say: " Thou art 
my God. My times are in Thy hand." 

The Lord thy God hath led thee — to 



All the Way 285 

bring thee into a good land. — Deuteron- 
omy 8:7. Has He brought us there ? 
We have tasted some of the fruits, per- 
haps; let us put our hand in His for 
another year, to be led into this good 
land without scarceness, — and it may be 
into that sweet and happy country where 
the humbling and hungering shall be re- 
membered with thankful joy as a part of 
the way thither, 

" And this my song through endless ages, 
Jesus led me all the way" 



286 Spirit and Life 



RETROSPECTION. 

He was better to me than all my hopes, 

He was better than all my fears ; 
He made a road of my broken works, 

And a rainbow of my tears. 
The billows that guarded my sea-girt path 

But carried my Lord on their crest ; 
When I dwell on the days of my wilderness march 

I can lean on His love for the rest. 

He emptied my hands of my treasured store, 

And His covenant love revealed, 
There was not a wound in my aching heart 

But the balm of His breath hath healed. 
Oh, tender and true was the chastening sore, 

In wisdom that taught and tried, 
Till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him 

And nothing on earth beside. 

He guided by paths that I could not see, 

By ways that I have not known, 
The crooked was straight and the rough made plain, 

As I followed the Lord alone. 
I praise Him still for the pleasant palms, 

And the watersprings by the way ; 
For the glowing pillars of flame by night, 

And the sheltering cloud by day. 

And if to warfare He calls me forth, 
He buckles my armor on ; 



All the Way 287 



He greets me with smiles, and a word of cheer, 

For battles His sword hath won ; 
He wipes my brow as 1 droop and faint, 

He blesses my hand to toil ; 
Faithful is He, as He washes my feet 

From the trace of each earthly soil. 

There is light for me on the trackless wild, 

As the wonders of old I trace ; 
When the God of the whole earth went before 

To search me a resting-place. 
Has He changed for me? Nay ! He changes not, 

He will bring me by some new way, 
Through fire and flood, and each crafty foe, 

As safely as yesterday. 

Never a watch on the dreariest halt 

But some promise of love endears ; 
I read from the past, that my future shall be 

Far better than all my fears. 
Like the golden pot of the wilderness bread, 

Laid up with the blossoming rod, 
All safe in the ark, with the law of the Lord, 

Is the covenant care of my God. 

Anna Shipton. 



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